CONSIDERING his connections, pedigree and name, Albert Einstein has a lofty reputation to uphold, but continues to impress after making it two from two in the Group 3 Gain Marble Hill Stakes.

A Coolmore homebred from the family of Giant’s Causeway and Gleneagles, the Wootton Bassett colt justified 1/2 favouritism on debut at Naas 15 days prior, earning him the title of 4/11 favourite on Sunday.

Tracking the leaders, Ryan Moore was forced to bide his time when others came under pressure passing the two-furlong pole, running into the clear a furlong later.

Ridden to lead inside the final 110 yards, the imposing bay kept on strongly to win by three parts of a length. Power Blue (Adrian Murray/David Egan) claimed runners-up honours at 11/1, while Joseph O’Brien’s second favourite Andab finished the same margin back in third, with another seven and a half lengths back to the remaining trio.

“He’s very quick,” Aidan O’Brien said after the race. “We’ve always thought he’s very good, but since his first run, he’s gotten so quick.

“Ryan said it felt like they were only hacking; they couldn’t go fast enough in front of him. Ryan taught him a lot. He waited and got him to relax as best he could.”

O’Brien continued to emphasis the unique nature of the colt, saying: “The lads said he was rated an eight as a yearling which is as high as it goes, so obviously as a physical he’s very good and he’s by Wootton Bassett. He’s never been anything but special in everything he’s done. He’s 540kg which is a very big horse and he’s only a two-year-old.”

Trainer’s reflections

Albert Einstein remains favourite for the Coventry Stakes, shortening now to 5/4. On whether the Coolmore and Westerberg-owned colt is an out-and-out sprinter, his trainer commented: “We thought he’d get six, seven and then get a mile. I think if we can keep him relaxed, he’ll get a mile in time.”

On the subject of fast horses, Aidan O’Brien was asked for his reflections on Storm Boy’s performance in the Greenlands Stakes the previous day. The Australian import was sent off 6/4 favourite on his Irish debut, but finished last of nine, beaten five and three quarter lengths.

“He had never been galloped or worked, so he had to run so that we knew what we had to work on between now and Ascot,” O’Brien explained. “We learnt yesterday that we’ve a good bit to work on but I was happy to do that yesterday.

“He was beaten six lengths but he got a bad enough check at the two [furlong] mark so you could take two lengths off that. That was a very respectable run.

“I know everyone was disappointed but we’ll take him home now and train him. We haven’t really trained him yet so hopefully what we think will come, will come.”