CHARLATAN did not see a racecourse until mid-February this year, a month after Nadal had caught the eye of many with a winning debut. It was the same story with this $700,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase when he took his first racecourse steps at Santa Anita and he later added an allowance victory to head into the Arkansas Derby two for two.

While not tried at stakes level, Charlatan (Speightstown) was still sent off a long odds-on favourite for the first division of the weekend highlight in the USA and he did not disappoint. He romped – and the term is appropriate in this instance – to a six-length win and in an impressive time. He was bred by Barbara Banke at her Stonestreet Farms and, though he was sold at public auction, she retains an interest in the colt with a number of other partners.