God-like speed: Aesterius steps up with a G3 win

His luck had to turn. Fifth, racing on the unfavoured stands side, in the G2 Norfolk Stakes, in an all-star Royal Ascot showdown – the winner, our own Shareholder; in fourth, just a short-head in front, future Prix Morny hero Whistlejacket. Then, after a bloodless Listed win at Sandown, Aesterius was caught late in the downhill blitz known as the G3 Molecomb Stakes, the winner again racing far away from him.

But today, as Longchamp racecourse welcomed racegoers back after its traditional summer recess, everything went completely to plan. In the G3 Prix d’Arenberg, France’s long-established test of the speediest juveniles, he simply broke first, led, and won.

The son of Mehmas, named after a Greek god, is as handsome as Adonis and fast as Hermes. He is likely to target Europe’s greatest 5f juvenile race, the Flying Childers at Doncaster, for his next race. Trainer Archie Watson, a dab hand with this sort of precocious talent, is already looking beyond that to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar in November – possibly via a tilt at the all-aged G1 Prix de l’Abbaye back here over the Longchamp straight five at the Qatar-sponsored Arc meeting.