Connections are relishing the prospect of the “brilliantly talented” Iberian lining up in the Dewhurst Stakes following his scintillating victory in the Champagne Stakes last month.

A winner in taking fashion at Newbury on debut, the Charlie Hills-trained youngster lost little in defeat at Goodwood on his second outing before getting back on the winning trail in supreme fashion at Doncaster, showcasing a blistering turn of foot to register a commanding two-length success.

With Group Two honours secured in South Yorkshire, the son of Lope De Vega will now attempt to keep his upwards curve moving skywards when heading to Newmarket on October 14.

Iberian will get his first taste of action at the highest level there and could face off against the best of the Ballydoyle juveniles and impressive Middle Park winner Vandeek.

“That will be his next start and it has been the plan all along to go Champagne then Dewhurst,” explained Richard Ryan, racing manager for Teme Valley who own the horse in partnership with Ballylinch Stud.

“There’s a nice gap between both races leading into the Dewhurst and that’s the hope, we’ve just got to see what Aidan O’Brien may bring to the table and that is a very tough act to beat.

“He’s got a stallion’s page and is a prodigious talent, but you have to show it at the top table and the Dewhurst seems the perfect place to do just that.”

Inexperience counted against Iberian on his second start in the Vintage Stakes, but he justified connections’ belief with a statement victory on Town Moor, bursting the bubble of the previously unbeaten Rosallion.

That form was given a timely boost when Richard Hannon’s highly-regarded colt bounced back to claim the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and adds extra substance to Iberian’s growing profile.

“It was good to see that endorsement of the form (in France) and let’s hope it’s a literal interpretation,” continued Ryan.

“He’s always been impressive at home, stunningly so, and our opinion of him couldn’t be higher.

“We were slightly dumbfounded by his defeat at Goodwood. He was drawn wide in one and William (Buick) hadn’t sat on him and rode him like the most inexperienced horse in the race, which was the right thing to do in the circumstances, but invariably we found ourself 10 lengths off the pace with only a few furlongs left to go, which is incredibly hard to make up on soft ground at Goodwood.

“Doncaster is a very different track and very flat and very fair in comparison and the horse was able to show what we’ve seen on a constant basis at home.”

In winning the Champagne Stakes, Iberian was following in the footsteps of another Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud alumni, Bayside Boy, who would win the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at three, but ran in both the Dewhurst and the Futurity Trophy following victory at Doncaster in his juvenile season.

However, Ryan explained that is not the plan this time and after Iberian has challenged for supremacy in the Dewhurst, thoughts will turn to next year’s 2000 Guineas, for which he is currently a best price of 25-1 but as short as 14s in places.

“This is a very different type of animal,” he said.

“The Dewhurst for Bayside Boy went slightly frustratingly in he got trapped in a pocket and got out late against Native Trail. Because he was a locally trained horse within Newmarket where the race is run, we found he was fresh as paint within 48 hours.

“Ordinarily it would never have been a consideration, but in those circumstances it was a different decision.

“This horse is brilliantly talented at home and has sheer brilliance as you saw at Doncaster with his turn of foot, so that would never be on the table.

“Come what may, he will be put away for the Guineas. We’ve just got one big hoop to jump through first.”

Iberian gave a glimpse of his star potential with a taking victory in the Betfred Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.

Charlie Hills’ youngster went into plenty of notebooks when making an impressive debut at Newbury, but inexperience took its toll at Goodwood when immediately thrust into Group Two company in the Vintage Stakes.

A length second to Haatem on that occasion, connections retained the faith in the exciting son of Lope De Vega, who had another Richard Hannon-trained runner in his way on Town Moor in the shape of the unbeaten Rosallion.

Tom Marquand was keen to shadow the 5-6 favourite up the Doncaster straight, but whereas Rosallion was unable to land a blow when push came to shove, Iberian demonstrated his class, and once hitting the front a furlong out he surged clear to come home two lengths ahead of runner-up Sunway.

Last year’s winner Chaldean went on to land the Dewhurst Stakes before returning at three to claim the 2000 Guineas and this year’s 3-1 scorer is likely to have similarly lofty aspirations, with both Betfair and Paddy Power going 8-1 from 16s for Newmarket’s end-of-season juvenile Group One and 20-1 for the opening Classic of 2024.

Charlie Hills’ classy two-year-old Iberian is on track to line up in the Betfred Champagne Stakes during Doncaster’s St Leger Festival.

Owned by Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud, the son of Lope De Vega created a taking impression when winning a Newbury novice event earlier in the summer and immediately had his sights raised to bigger and better things.

Although deteriorating ground ruled him out of a Superlative Stakes clash with Aidan O’Brien’s Classic hope City Of Troy, Iberian did get the chance to advertise his talents in Group Two company when second in the Vintage Stakes during the Qatar Goodwood Festival.

Inexperience took its toll as he chased home Richard Hannon’s Haatem for the silver medal on the Sussex Downs, but his handler is hopeful the exposure to a higher calibre contest will tee him up nicely for his next outing at that level on Town Moor.

“He’s been really good since Goodwood,” said Hills.

“He was probably just a little bit green on that ground and around that track. He just ran a bit in snatches but I’m sure that experience will bring him on a good bit.

“His work has been great since and he’s due to do a nice piece this week. Hopefully that will put him spot on for Doncaster next week.

“That race should suit him and better ground will help as well.”

Charlie Hills could send smart prospect Iberian to Ascot next weekend as he builds towards “bigger and better things”.

The Lope De Vega juvenile produced a sparkling debut win at Newbury, where he travelled strongly in an extended six-furlong novice and led easily with two furlongs to run.

He just had to be shaken up to score by Rossa Ryan and shot to the top of the pecking order at a yard brimming with smart youngsters.

Iberian was due to have his second start in the Group Two Superlative Stakes, won by City Of Troy, who is now favourite for next year’s 2000 Guineas.

However, the rain-softened ground saw the Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud-owned colt withdrawn.

Hills is now eyeing the Listed Flexjet Pat Eddery Stakes over seven furlongs on the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth II Stakes card.

“We pulled him out at Newmarket because of the rain,” said Hills.

“I’m not sure where we will go, but we might look at Ascot – the Pat Eddery, what used to be known as the Winkfield Stakes.

“He is absolutely fine. He’s done well since his debut and he looks a nice horse to me.

“We will see how we go, take it one step at a time and hope he goes on to bigger and better things.”