Aidan O'Brien lands ninth Coventry as Arizona stars under Ryan Moore

Some of the big-field handicaps at Ascot may offer glorious unpredictability, but in the Coventry Stakes it was more of the same as Aidan O'Brien extended his record as the most successful trainer in the race with Arizona giving him a ninth victory.

O'Brien's first Royal winner was in the race in 1997 via Harbour Master, and 22 years later he has now amassed 67 Royal successes with Arizona the latest to make it to the hallowed winner's enclosure.

Watch Arizona power through the field to land the Coventry

The most prestigious of the six two-year-old races at the meeting, the Coventry Stakes often acts as a marker for which juveniles will be taking top honours this season and beyond.

While O'Brien's last winner, Caravaggio in 2016, went on to be a top-class sprinter, the trainer thinks Arizona is a horse for longer trips in time.

The son of No Nay Never is now favourite at as short as 10-1 for next year's 2,000 Guineas, and O'Brien said: "You'd imagine that's what he is [a Guineas horse]. At the moment he'd be very comfortable up to seven. When he won at the Curragh, [we thought] if he was eligible for the Chesham we'd have had no problem running him. I think he's probably quicker than he lets on as he's still a baby."

Ryan Moore: enjoyed opening day glory at Royal Ascot with ArizonaCredit: Edward Whitaker

Arizona came into the race off the back of an eight-length stroll at the Curragh, but had to show tenacity to stick on down the centre of the course to defeat 4-1 second favourite Threat by half-a-length, with Guildsman a further neck away in third.

O'Brien added: "He was very green the first day and learnt a lot and won very easily next time so probably didn't learn much.

"He was slow away and a bit lost in the race, but came home well. He will have learnt plenty today."

Aidan O'Brien's Coventry winners

Harbour Master (1997)
Fasliyev (1999)
Landseer (2001)
Statue of Liberty (2002)
Henrythenavigator (2007)
Power (2011)
War Command (2013)
Caravaggio (2016)
Arizona (2019)

Winning jockey Ryan Moore added: "He's impressed on all of his starts and has a super attitude. He's not fully switched on yet and the penny hasn't dropped to get into gear, but he'll probably benefit when he goes up in trip.

"He's a high-class colt. He's come out of a maiden, so it's a different tempo and he's travelled over from Ireland, so you'd only be delighted with what he's done."

Richard Hannon, trainer of Threat, was also delighted with his runner-up, who came into the race off the back a debut victory at Newmarket at the start of last month.

"He's a good horse, we came here to learn that and we've learnt that, the trainer said. "He's a Group 1 horse and I can't wait for the rest of the year. We'll wait and see but he could go to Newmarket, he's the sort of horse who'll come out of the race great. He's strong, he's mature and we'll have a good year with him and hopefully win a Group 1."

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