A RYEDALE horse, who, four months ago did not even have a name, promises to make a very big name for himself on both sides of the Atlantic before the year is out.

Red Duke, who hit the Group 2 jackpot for John Quinn at Newmarket last Saturday, has the Breeders’ Cup Turf Juvenile at Churchill Downs in Kentucky in early November as his prime target.

“It’s a race that makes a lot of appeal, both on pedigree – he’s by a stallion, Hard Spun, who was a very good horse in America – and on demeanour,” confirmed Quinn in the wake of Red Duke’s memorable triumph in the Superlative Stakes, in which he started at 10-1.

It was significant that Quinn booked Kieren Fallon to take the mount at Newmarket as he rarely engages the services of the one-time Norton jockey, whose subsequent career has seen him become a multiple champion and Derby- winning pilot, unless he feels there is a very good chance of winning.

“Kieren gave him a very good ride and liked him,” said Quinn. “He’s a good horse, a very good horse, owned by a man, Peter Clay, who is a great supporter of ours.”

Clay underlined that support at Doncaster’s Breeze-Up Sales in April when he forked out £140,000 for Red Duke, who was the top lot, and who was secured by Quinn only after a bidding duel with Robin O’Ryan, acting on behalf of an owner with Richard Fahey.

One way or another, Red Duke was going to find his way back to Ryedale and Quinn is delighted that he had the final nod.

The handsome colt has had three races so far, a close-up third over six furlongs at Pontefract, a maiden race at Redcar and Saturday’s Newmarket victory, which jettisoned him to a place among the top ten juveniles seen out so far.

“He came on a lot from Redcar so although it was a big step up into Group 2 company at Newmarket, we weren’t going down there simply to have a runner in a Group race,” said Quinn, who is now working out a plan for the rest of the season.

“The Champagne Stakes at Goodwood is under consideration. It’s another Group 2 and he’d have a 3lb penalty. We’ll have a look at that. There’s nothing concrete at the moment. There are other options for him. But if he’s going to go to America, he’ll need to be professional, so he’ll have at least one, probably two more races in the meantime.”

It’s exciting stuff. Red Duke looks the real deal, a horse who could go a long way. Kentucky, a long way indeed, is the ambitious target.