The Group II Coventry Stakes (6f) at Royal Ascot overnight produced a virtual charge of the light brigade with 20 runners doing battle and it was the Coolmore owned Wootton Bassett colt River Tiber that showed his class to take the win.
A brilliant winner of his first two starts in Ireland, the Aidan O’Brien trained colt produced another outstanding effort for Ryan Moore to win by a neck over Shalaa colt Army Ethos with another Wootton Bassett colt Bucanero Fuerte in third place. Givemethebeatboys, who sold for 1.1million pounds at the Goffs London Sale finished fourth.
“He has got plenty of speed, but I would have thought he's going to be a Dewhurst(G1) horse. We got to the start for a 22-runner race and he stood over all of them. He's different class,” said Ryan Moore.
River Tiber has been a natural runner from day one.
“We knew when we started working him, I’d say in February time,” said Aidan O’Brien of the colt who has now won three from three..
“You need the best horse to win the Coventry, that’s the bottom line, and he was never disappointing in any of his work. The stronger the work got, the stronger he became.
“The last piece of work he was doing too well so that was my worry. You could see him through the first part of the race today, he just finds it very easy.”
O’Brien believes River Tiber will ultimately get over further with Guineas races at three the goal.
“We’ve always thought he was a Guineas horse,” O’Brien said.
“When you win a Coventry that’s what you think you have. He’d be very comfortable staying at six furlongs and he could go up to seven whenever because he’s relaxed.
“I think he’d have no problem with a Dewhurst. We probably won’t keep him at six too long, but he’s very comfortable at the moment. Why would you go up when you don’t have to?
“Those very good milers can show you that early because they have to have speed and these horses are big, powerful, rangy horses, whereas the small, compact horses show speed but often don’t carry it on.”
River Tiber was purchased for 480,000 guineas from Tattersalls October Book 1 Yearling Sale and was the highest priced colt by Wootton Bassett sold at that sale. Bred by Pier House Stud, he is the first winner from Transcendence, an unraced half-sister by Oasis Dream stallion Arcano to stakes-winners Mister Manannan and Shermeen, the dam of Group I winning 2YO Sudirman.
He is one of eight two year-old winners from 12 starters this year in Europe for Wootton Bassett, whose better bred crops of foals are poised for lift off.
River Tiber is 33rd stakes-winner for Wootton Bassett, who is priced this spring at $93,500 with his first Australian bred yearlings to sell in 2024.
