Johannesburg cruises to Morny triumph

Johannesburg maintained his unbeaten record and confirmed his position at the head of the betting for the Sagitta 2000 Guineas with a stylish victory in the Prix Morny Casinos Barriere at Deauville today.

The Tote now go 3-1 from 8-1 for the Newmarket Classic while Coral Eurobet make Aidan O`Brien`s juvenile a more generous 7-1 chance.

Just a fortnight after his Phoenix Stakes stroll at Leopardstown, win number five came at the expense of the French-trained Zipping, beaten one and a half lengths by O`Brien`s odds-on shot with the David Loder-trained Meshaheer the same distance back in third.

The six-furlong Group One was run at a good gallop and Michael Kinane tracked the leaders on Johannesburg before unleashing the son of Hennessy at the furlong pole.

Getting an immediate response, the Ballydoyle runner came readily clear of his rivals.

Ian Balding`s Firebreak took fourth, one place ahead of Andre Fabre`s War Zone.

Johannesburg`s success on good to soft ground camedespite losing a shoe in the race.

The Robert Collet-trained Zipping put up a creditable performance to run Johannesburg so close, considering that he missed the break and he could face a rematch with today`s winner in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on October 4th.

However, O`Brien is also considering the Dewhurst Stakes as well the Breeders` Cup juvenile for the Michael Tabor-owned Johannesburg, who paid 1.70 on the Pari-Mutuel.

'I was not at all worried about running so close after his last race as he had an easy time in the Phoenix Stakes,' said O`Brien.

'We were very pleased with today and he will now take some rest before his next outing.'

The Michael Jarvis-trained Holding Court bounced back to winning form with an all-the-way success in the Group Two Grand Prix de Deauville.

Ridden by Philip Robinson the four-year-old beat Godolphin`s Marienbard by two and a half lengths and was gaining his first victory since landing last season`s French Derby at Chantilly.

Paying 5.3-1 on the Pari-Mutuel, Holding Court clearly enjoyed the softening ground and will now go directly for the Prix de l`Arc de Triomphe on October 7th.

Frankie Dettori, out of luck on Meshaheer and Marienbard, enjoyed better fortune when guiding Sheikh Mohammed`s Do The Honours to a three-length success over John Dunlop`s Invincible Spirit in the Group Three Prix de Meautry.

Another British runner Hot Tin Roof finished third with O`Brien`s Freud sixth.