Racing: Music flies into Guineas picture

ANY GOOD horse can quicken up once, but only the very best can do it twice. On yesterday's evidence, Distant Music is one of that rare breed, and while the turn of foot which carried him past Rossini in the final furlong was impressive enough, the burst of speed which took him to a challenging position two out was simply astounding.

Distant Music was carried left from his outside draw when Rossini swerved as he left the stalls, and when the field settled down, Michael Hills, his jockey, was several lengths off the good pace set by Ekraar. When he was still there at the three pole, some started to mutter that Hills was either supremely confident, or in danger of making a fool of himself.

Before the sentence was finished, Distant Music had swept through on to Ekraar's heels, and with a quarter of a mile to race, the contest was as good as over. Hills paused briefly, and then set Distant Music about his business. He was two and a half lengths to the good at the line, with five back to Tioga in third. Ekraar, who had looked very useful at Goodwood last month, could not make the frame.

"I'm very impressed, because if anything he's got there too soon," Barry Hills, his trainer, said. "He picked up from the back twice, once to get into position and then again, so he's got a good burst of foot, and he's a horse that's only had the one race. He's very sound and he's got a very good temperament and there's every chance he'll get a mile and a quarter in the top class next year."

Distant Music's jockey was equally impressed. "He's a different sort of horse to Auction House [who won the same race last year]," Michael Hills said. "This horse has a good turn of foot, a high cruising speed and is a lovely horse to ride. He quickens so well, and he's the best I've ridden for my father."

The Dewhurst Stakes is the obvious target for Distant Music, and if he does not go to Newmarket, he is unlikely to race again until spring. Even a long absence, though, is unlikely to dim the memory of this victory, and Ladbrokes' 10-1 (from 16-1) offer for the 2,000 Guineas will not last long.

William Hill, in fact, make Distant Music 7-1 joint-favourite (from 20- 1) with Bernstein and Fasliyev. Both are trained by Aidan O'Brien, and at least one will run in the Dewhurst, which could prove to be as good a renewal as we have seen for years.