Thursday, 20 June 2019: Aidan O'Brien's decision to drop Circus Maximus back in trip to win yesterday's G1 St James's Palace Stakes was widely praised.

Barbados

He deserves further credit for asking Barbados   to go in the opposite direction and prove his stamina in today's mile-and-three-quarters G2 Queen's Vase, a decision that nearly paid off when the colt was beaten half a length into second by winner Dashing Willoughby (6/1). Barbados (20/1) was another half a length ahead of third-placed Nayef Road (16/1), who made much of the running, but had to give best to the first two inside the final furlong as the trio pulled clear of their rivals. The beaten horses included the 11/4 favourite Norway, a stablemate of Barbados.

O'Brien said of the runner-up: "He's by Galileo and he always looked like he would stay, so we have to be delighted with his effort. It was a great run by a three-year-old in that ground so early in the season."

Wayne Lordan, who rode the colt, said: "He has run a big race. He kept going - he tries. There is a big day in him."
Andrea Atzeni, who rode Nayef Road, said: "He ran a great race. He was a little bit slow early on and I had to use him to get my position. I wasn't sure about the trip, but he obviously stays very well," while the horse's trainer, Mark Johnston, said: "He was drawn quite wide and was quite slowly into his stride, so I thought it was a great move [by Atzeni] to push round and take the lead.

"That initiative nearly paid off. He galloped all the way to the line and you couldn't say he didn't stay every yard of the trip. We're very happy and glad we went half a mile extra and make that big jump up in trip. I can assure you he won't be dropping back to a mile and a quarter again."