He's undefeated, has never been headed, has his own fan club, and just may be the best sprinter in the world.
Overdose, or "Dozi" as he is affectionately called by his legions of admirers in Hungary, will begun his 2009 campaign at Kincsem Park in Budapest on Sunday when he will very likely outclass seven local rivals in the five-furlong Hungaria Nagydij, a Hungarian Group 1 contest worth $31,500.
Delegator made short work of the Group 3, $97,000 Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday, taking the one-mile course and distance prep for the 2000 Guineas in dramatic last-to-first style.
Sent off as the 4-6 favorite in the absence of the Godolphin-owned City Style, who was scratched after having scoped badly, Delegator powered clear under Jamie Spencer to defeat the 12-1 Sans Frontieres by 2 3/4 lengths with recent Easter Stakes winner Pure Poetry third, three-quarters of a length behind the runner-up. The winning time on good to firm ground was 1:36.56.
Whatever sum George Strawbridge paid for Fantasia in January looks like money well spent, as that 3-year-old daughter of Sadler's Wells was most impressive in her seasonal debut at Newmarket on Wednesday, drawing clear to win the Group 3, $96,000 Nell Gwyn Stakes by seven lengths.
France's juvenile filly champion, Proportional, was beaten into third place in her seasonal debut by Tamazirte in the Group 3, $105,000 Prix de la Grotte at Longchamp on Sunday in a paceless mile that turned into 1 1/2-furlong sprint.
A daughter of Danehill Dancer, Tamazirte prevailed by a neck over Soneva, with Proportional a half-length farther back in third. Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, Tamazirte clocked the mile in 1:42.78 on good to soft ground.
Owner George Strawbridge's European classic aspirations will be previewed at Newmarket on Wednesday, when his off-season purchase Fantasia makes her first start of the year in the Group 3, $95,000 Nell Gwyn Stakes, a seven-furlong trial for the 1000 Guineas on May 1.
Strawbridge bought Fantasia, a daughter of Sadler's Wells trained by Luca Cumani, in January, a few months after she had finished second to his European juvenile filly champ Rainbow View in Ascot's Group 1 Fillies Mile.
As promised, trainer Ken McPeek entered Theregoesjojo for the Epsom Derby at the late nomination stage on Thursday. Owners Sametowka Stables and Delfiner Partners anted up 8,000 pounds, approximately $11,745, to get their colt into the $1.8 million, 1o1/2-mile classic, which will be run on June 6, the same day as the Belmont Stakes.
But before the possibility of Epsom, McPeek has other plans for Theregoesjojo, a son of Brahms, starting with the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday.
Artiste Royal will return to Hong Kong for the $1.8 million Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin on April 26.
His trainer, Neil Drysdale, and owners David and Jill Heerensperger have accepted an invitation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club to run in the 1 1/4-mile Group 1 contest, in which he will meet defending title-holder and Arlington Million runner-up Archipenko, recent Dubai Duty Free runner-up Presvis, and the locally trained, six-time Group 1 winner Viva Pataca.