Sweden’s Tobias Olofsson reached a career high on Thursday evening, when the Sergei Prokofiev son Antonov, together with Per-Anders Gråberg, won the Tattersalls Ireland Norsk 2000 Guineas with no fewer than six lengths to spare over the favourite Phantom Bling.
Antonov thrived like a fish in water in the pouring rain, and when Gråberg gave his horse the order to go in the straight, the pair left their rivals with no chance.
Phantom Bling (New Bay) missed the break but looked to hold every chance at the entrance to the straight. This time, however, he could do nothing about Antonov, and the hot favourite had to settle for second ahead of his stablemate Our Bear (Kodi Bear).
The first prize in the Norsk 2000 Guineas was worth NOK 190,000 to Stall Guldkalven AB, who watched their three-year-old take his third win in just five starts.
