Jan the man the one to follow

By Alan Conway

For many people the highlight of Irish Guineas weekend was the top drawer performance from Canford Cliffs in the 2000 Guineas. But one could argue that there was a better performance, one that oozed class. Jan Vermeer in the Gallinule Stakes.

The son of Montjeu was making his belated seasonal debut in the Group 3 contest. As with the majority of Aidan O’Brien’s horses this season, Jan Vermeer was expected to need his first run quite a bit. If he needed the run I can’t wait to see this horse when he is fully fit. In the paddock before the race Jan Vermeer looked to be quite forward and ready to do himself justice. Sent off at 6/4 favourite, he was quickly settled in third off a strong pace set by Bobbyscot. He travelled like a dream for Johnny Murtagh and only had to be given a shake of the reins to make victory sure. It was a classy performance, even more so when you consider that Jan Vermeer had to concede seven pounds to his rivals.

There are times when you look at a race and one horse stands head and shoulders above the rest. It smacked of a horse who is destined for the very top. Granted, beating a horse the calibre of Bobbyscot by one and three quarter lengths is not Derby winning form but Jan Vermeer had much more in hand than the winning margin.

Bred by the Shadow Song Syndicate and named after a 15th century Dutch artist, Jan Vermeer was beaten by Crystal Gal in his maiden race. He soon got on the winning trail when he was a easily beat Betharini. Jan Vermeer quickly put down a marker for this season when he took the Group 1 Criterium International at Saint Cloud, the same race that Fame And Glory took en route to finishing second to Sea The Stars at Epsom last year.

In winning the Gallinule stakes in the manner that he did, Jan Vermeer has put himself right in the frame for both the English and the French Derbies. But which one should he go for? The immediate impression after the Gallinule was that Jan Vermeer should head to Epsom. Nothing since the race has altered that view. He does have enough speed for the 10 furlong Prix De Jockey Club. However only when he is stepped up in distance will we see the best of Jan Vermeer.

The Prix De Jockey Club should be the target for Cape Blanco and Viscount Nelson. I for one will not try and second guess what the Coolmore brainstrust are thinking, but surely there is more chance of Jan Vermeer staying the Derby trip than Cape Blanco. His dam Shadow Song was a winner over 11 furlongs in France .Combine this with the phenomenal record that his sire Montjeu has in the Derby and Jan Vermeer has all the requisite credentials to play a big hand.

The only lingering doubt about the chances of Jan Vermeer at Epsom is that Coolmore still have tremendous faith in St Nicholas Abbey. Johnny Murtagh summed up their confidence. When asked during a press day at Ballydoyle on the chances of the Coolmore horses this year Murtagh said “If the real St Nicholas Abbey turns up the rest will be playing for second”.

If Jan Vermeer does not win the Derby at Epsom he will win a Group 1 sooner rather than later. Much in the same way that Fame And Glory was unlucky to be foaled in the same year as Sea The Stars so too is Jan Vermeer unlucky to be the same age as St Nicholas Abbey. He has a high cruising speed and has a smart turn of foot. There are some people who may think that the Derby is a foregone conclusion. Maybe Jan will be the man come the 5th of June.

By Alan Conway