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HENRYTHENAVIGATOR (USA) 3-y-o (28 Feb 2005) b/br c

Kingmambo (USA) - Sequoyah (IRE) (Sadler's Wells (USA))

Trainer: A P O´Brien Owner: Mrs John Magnier Bred: Western Bloodstock.

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Henrythenavigator won the English and Irish Guineas with a devastating burst of speed in the final furlong. “Henry” relishes firm ground and appears to hold the physical attributes of athleticism and balance, to be effective round the cambers of Epsom’s famous mile and a half course. The burning question is whether he can stay the distance.

Kingmambo, the sire of Henrythenavigator, has produced Group One winning mile and a half performers including El Condor Pasa, Alkaseed, and last year’s Oaks hero Light Shift, while Rule Of Law won the Group One 2004 St Leger. El Condor Pasa’s dam is a Sadler's Wells mare, as is Henrythenavigator’s.

“Henrys” dam Sequyoah, ran once over a mile and a half in the 2001 Irish Oaks. She stayed the trip surprisingly well, finishing a close up fourth to Lailani. So far so good.

Unfortunately, lurking amongst Kingmambo’s Group One winners are Dubai Destination and Divine Proportions. The former was out of an Alleged mare and failed to stay further than a mile, while Divine Proportions, out of a Saddler’s Wells mare, stayed ten and a half furlongs, but was at her best over a mile. This to my mind suggests we have to assess his chances of staying a mile and a half by connections' comments and visual clues.

Aidan O’Brien announced him as a “definite possible” whilst pointing out that “a lot of horses by Kingmambo stay a mile and a half, and this colt is out of a Sadler's Wells mare, so that is a positive”. Johnny Murtagh appears, by his comments, to have serious doubts about his stamina.

Personally, I feel he left the impression that he was racing over his optimum trip though ten-furlongs would not appear to be beyond his powers. Recent high profile Derby non-stayers include Refuse To Bend, Dubai Millennium, Snow Ridge and Beat Hollow. Epsom offers no place to hide as the protagonists race uphill to glory in the final furlong.

If he takes his chance at Epsom, Henrythenavigator will be running in his third Group One race in thirty-five days. Even by Aidan O’Brien’s standards, that is asking an awful lot of any top-class horse. My belief is that if he does run, he will find the final furlong a distance too far. He reminds me of Hawk Wing; he ran with distinction in the 2002 Derby, but ultimately ran out of stamina in the final furlong.