Johannesburg heads to Newmarket

Johannesburg is likely to put his unbeaten record on the line in the #150,000 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday.

The Hennessy colt, unbeaten in five races, was one of seven two-year-olds from Aidan O`Brien`s stable left in the Group One contest over six furlongs and among a total of 17 at today`s confirmation stage.

His last two victories have come in Group One events - the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes at Leopardstown and the Prix Morny Casinos Barriere at Deauville.

On the strength of those wins, he is 6-1 second favourite with the Tote for the Sagitta 2000 Guineas behind 5-1 shot Dubai Destination.

'The plan is for Johannesburg to run and he may be my only runner in the race.

We were very happy with his last piece of work,' said O`Brien, who intends sending a strong team of two-year-olds to Newmarket.

'We have a few coming each day so hopefully they`ll run well.'

They could include Galileo`s full brother Black Sam Bellamy. He is an intended runner in the Lifestyle Finance Services Maiden Stakes over the Rowley Mile on Tuesday.

The going for next week`s four-day meeting at Newmarket has been changed to good today following heavy rain.

'We had nine millimetres of rain this morning, so consequently the ground has eased,' said clerk of the course Michael Prosser.

The Ballydoyle trainer confirmed that his Breeders` Cup hopefuls, headed by Classic contender Galileo, the dual Derby and King George winner, will have a spin on Southwell`s Fibresand surface on Wednesday.

'The plan is to see how Galileo adapts to the surface. He`s very well and we`ll see how he goes.'

'I will take eight or nine horses to Southwell, and the big ones will work in their own groups.'

Galileo will be accompanied by Mozart (Breeders` Cup Sprint), King Charlemagne (Sprint or Mile) and Black Minnaloushe (Mile or Classic).

O`Brien revealed that Galileo appeared to be affected when suffering the first defeat of his career at the hands of Fantastic Light in the Ireland The Food Island Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown earlier this month.

'He wasn`t very happy for the first few days, but he`s in great form now again. The last four furlongs of the race happened very quick and I thought our pacemaker would go on and Godolphin`s pacemaker would follow him. But he didn`t.

'We just went Fantastic Light`s pace. It was a great race and Galileo came out of it well.'