Rebel Still Number One In The Guineas Charts Cockney Rebel kept the smile on former pop drummer Geoff Huffer´s face as the colt raced to a Classic double in the Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh.The Newmarket handler saddled the son of Val Royal to a hugely-impressive win at Newmarket three weeks ago when he swept through the whole field to record the third-fastest time in the race.And while his second victory at the top level may not have been as visually impressive, the end result was the same with Olivier Peslier´s mount collecting in the mile showpiece by a comfortable length.There were wild scenes in the winner´s enclosure after Huffer´s charge became the sixth horse, and the first since Rock Of Gibraltar five years ago, to achieve the English-Irish 2000 Guineas double.Owner Phil Cunningham and his friends piled on to the grandstand for the presentation, with chart-topping 1970s rocker Steve Harley ? whose band the horse is named after ? joining in the celebrations.While Cockney Rebel sprung a 25-1 shock at Headquarters, the world was much more alive to his chances this time and he returned the popular 6-4 favourite.However, the race did not pan out as planned and Peslier found himself handier than expected and his mount pulled hard in the early stages.But once he found his stride the result was never in doubt and Cockney Rebel cruised into the lead passing the two-furlong pole and was always holding French 2000 Guineas runner-up Creachadoir.David Wachman´s He´s A Decoy was a further length back in third, with the Aidan O´Brien-trained Duke Of Marmalade occupying the same position as at Newmarket in fourth.Huffer, celebrating just his second winner on the Curragh, said: 'That was incredible, just incredible. I have always thought he was a good horse and he has shown that emphatically.'It was totally different to the Newmarket race and he hit the front too soon, but he will fight for you.'This horse is top class and could be a legend.'He has come on from Newmarket and improved. He is the most serious horse I have ever seen in my life.'He might not have won that far but he is a serious, serious performer and he is so laid back.'He has so much speed he could win the July Cup, but we will go to Royal Ascot next for the St James´s Palace.'After that he will run in either the Juddmonte International or the Queen Elizabeth II, and then the Breeders´ Cup.'Boylesports make him the 6-4 favourite for the St James´s Palace Stakes, with Cashmans slightly bigger at 7-4.Harley hit the number one spot in 1975 with Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me), and the singer was reliving the same emotions over 30 years on.He said: 'I don´t own him or train him and have nothing to gain from this apart from being peripherally involved but it excites me.'When he won at Newmarket it meant as much to me as when Make Me Smile went to number one in the UK; it was that exciting.'But this is something else as it confirms it, and we have seen something special here.'Harley continued: 'I went to Newmarket with vouchers for 66-1 and 40-1 as a betting man.'I have been following racing for 30 years and it is very much my passion, and I think what I have just seen from the stands was one of the best mile performances at that level in history.'This is no fluke. He is no one-hit wonder and thankfully I am free to go and see him run in the St James´s Palace Stakes, although I do start rehearsals the next day for a West End play.'I saw something there that was spine-tingling. I thought that was Brigadier Gerard, it was a miler from the highest echelon.'Jim Bolger was gracious in defeat with Teofilo´s lead horse filling the runner-up spot just under two weeks after his effort at Longchamp.Bolger said: 'He has run a good race. But I was wrong ? he is only the third-best three-year-old in Europe!'We will take a pull with him now and give him a break. He won´t go to Ascot and we might save him for the Prix de Moulin.'Bolger added of the sidelined Teofilo: 'He is going the right way and we will know more in a month.'(C) PA Sport
