Haffner a solid Acomb winner for O’Brien Haffner gained consolation for his narrow Vintage Stakes defeat when striking at Group level for the first time in the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at York. Stardom Glory was quickly sent to the front by James Doyle, with Haffner in close attention on the outside in the early stages before Vega King took it up as they passed through halfway. The Aidan O’Brien-trained Haffner laid down his challenge a furlong and a half out and while Gentle Hurricane valiantly tried to give chase he was no match for the 11-8 favourite, with Ryan Moore keeping him up to his work as he extended his advantage close home for a two-length success. O’Brien said: “He ran a lovely race at Goodwood, but Ryan thought he was a little bit babyish. “He’s a very good mover so we always thought the quicker the better for him with the ground, but Ryan said he handled that today, on the softer side of good, no problem. “With every week that goes by he’ll improve, he’s a typical Justify, they very rarely relent when they get to the front. “Ryan said he was a little bit slowly away but when he asked him he got there a little bit quicker than he wanted.” He added: “This horse will have no problem staying a mile, he’d have no problem going to a Breeders’ Cup over a mile. He could go to Doncaster for the Futurity Trophy and next year he’d have no problem with a mile and a quarter. “We have the trials in Ireland on Saturday and the National Stakes and all those races, but he’s right in the mix and always was.” Of the runner-up Andrew Balding said: “He travelled nicely through the race and Oisin (Murphy) thought he was going to pick the winner up, but he just took a bit of time to find his feet and finished off well. “I don’t know where we’ll go next, to be honest. We might try to find a Listed race. “He will stay a mile, but we’ll just look at our options. He won’t have a busy time this year – he’ll probably have one more run somewhere. He’s going to be a nice horse.” Paddy Power cut Haffner from 25/1 to 12/1 for the 2,000 Guineas.
