Johannesburg looks a cut above rivals

Leading Irish trainer Aidan O`Brien has amassed a total of 16 Group One wins this season and the master of Ballydoyle can add to that impressive tally with Johannesburg in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket tomorrow.

O`Brien`s youngster is unbeaten in five starts and has already scored twice at the top level.

Having won a Fairyhouse maiden, Royal Ascot`s Norfolk Stakes and the Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh, Johannesburg landed the Group One Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes at Leopardstown in spectacular fashion.

He was in a different league to his rivals and cruised home by five lengths from Miss Beabea.

He travelled to Deauville for his latest outing where he comfortably defeated Zipping by a length and a half in the Group One Prix Morny.

Johannesburg`s hallmark has been his blistering turn of speed and he should have little difficulty keeping his record intact tomorrow.

His biggest danger could once again be Zipping, who ranwell at Deauville despite a tardy start. However, he still had every chance and there appears no reason why he should reverse placings with O`Brien`s star at Newmarket.

There is a quality line-up for the Unicoin Homes Joel Stakes and this one-mile Listed contest can also fall to an O`Brien raider namely Beckett.

The son of Fairy King, winner of last season`s National Stakes, made a belated reappearance - after a year`s absence - at the Curragh last month and showed plenty of promise to finish a head second to Magic Cove in a Listed race.

Sure to come on for that effort Beckett can hold too many guns for the likes of Swallow Flight, Askham and Aldebaran.

Best value of the day could lie with Taboor in the newmarketracecourses.co.uk Handicap over the minimum trip of five furlongs.

The Pip Payne-trained three-year-old won his maiden at Leicester at the end of July by a length from Annie Ruan despite pulling hard.

The gelding has been off the course since but has recently been catching the eye on the Newmarket gallops and his work has indicated that he is now more settled and has progressed nicely.

Jamie Spencer was on board Taboor at Leicester and he takes the ride tomorrow and the combination can once again prove to be a winning one.

Bowlers Boy, who missed a tempting engagement when Redcar`s meeting last Friday was abandoned, can make amends in the Stora Enso Fine Paper Classified Stakes at Nottingham where he will encounter his favoured heavy going.