Azamour Looks Champion Once Again

Azamour can justify his skinny odds with the scalp of Motivator in the Baileys Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown next Saturday.

The King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes hero is reported to be in flying form ahead of the Group One showdown with the Vodafone Derby winner.

And even though punters will be lucky to get even-money for him, the Night Shift colt would seem a rock-solid prospect to defend his crown on September 10.

Although the market signalled a lack of confidence in Azamour last year, Mick Kinane, as he so often is aboard the four-year-old, was a case-study in self-confidence as soon as the stalls opened in the 10-furlong contest.

After picking off his rivals one by one, Kinane and his partner showed real finesse by getting up on the line to defeat Norse Dancer by half a length.

The rest is history and John Oxx´s charge has gone on to land the Prince of Wales´s Stakes before taking a step up to a mile and a half in his stride in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.

Again Kinane was brilliant, and again his mount duly obliged with another trademark late surge to fend off the luckless Norse Dancer for a second time.

Much to connections´ chagrin, Kinane will be unable to ride the Aga Khan-owned colt at Leopardstown. The veteran jockey is sidelined with a broken wrist which gives Christophe Soumillon the chance to shine.

Kinane´s absence at the helm is obviously a blow, but Soumillon never lacks confidence on the big stage and is taken to provide Azamour with the perfect foil.

And if he runs to his true form, the leading light at Currabeg will surely prove too strong for his rivals next weekend - and that includes Motivator.

The Derby winner impressed new partner Frankie Dettori when working over a mile at Newmarket last week and is clearly in warm order ahead of the race.

That said, his defeat by Oratorio in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes indicated that if a race is not run to the liking of the three-year-old, there are visible chinks in his armour.

The muddling pace and sprint finish ultimately proved his undoing at Sandown and are two factors unlikely to affect his biggest rival´s chances of success.

Moreover, if Motivator´s suspect temperament is also thrown into the equation, the answer would appear to be found in taking Azamour to land the Irish Champion Stakes at even-money with VC Bet and Coral.

? PA Sport