Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1)

IT was over in a matter of seconds.

A contest became a procession as Delacroix left a high-class field in his wake to add his name to a luminous roll of honour in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes.

It was a stupendous 13th triumph in the vaunted Group 1 for trainer Aidan O’Brien, who like his super-sub pilot Christophe Soumillon, was bringing up a treble on the first day of Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown.

It was Soumillon’s second success in the feature, having guided Almanzor to glory nine years ago.

O’Brien had waxed lyrical about the turn of speed Delacroix had shown in turning certain defeat into victory in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown and described the subsequent reversal of positions with Ombudsman in the Juddmonte International in York as “a non-event”.

The gears were certainly in evidence last Saturday as Delacroix’s pace-setting stablemate Mount Kilimanjaro gave way. Having been further back than expected, the 2/1 favourite was in front within strides of turning in and it was never in doubt from there.

On officially good to yielding ground, Soumillon elected to bring Delacroix over to the stands’ side rail and he stayed on strongly to win by three-parts of a length.

Anmaat (4/1) from the Owen Burrows yard proved best of the rest under Chris Hayes, three-quarters of a length behind, but never a likely winner.

It was over two lengths back to Royal Champion (18/1), who ran a blinder to be third for trainer Karl Burke, the Yorkshire handler having registered a double earlier in the day.

It was all about Delacroix, however, the son of Dubawi and champion racemare Tepin. The only pall on proceedings is the possibility - and maybe even probability - that this was the last time we would see him on a racecourse.

Certainly, O’Brien was disinclined to name potential future engagements.

”He’s so quick”

“He’s some horse to quicken,” said the admiring trainer initially. “He did the same in Sandown, he’s so quick. We knew York was only a sprint down the straight really.

“It was an even, strong-run race. Christophe was very confident on him and took his time on him. When he said go, he just took off. He obviously had a little bit to do on him, but when he said ‘go’ on him you could see the quickness he has.

“What he did in Sandown was very unusual, you don’t see horses do that. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a horse do what he did in Sandown, and he did it again today.

“In two strides it was over. He wasn’t there and next thing he was gone. He looked like he wasn’t in the picture and next thing he was in front.

“It could be (his last race). I can’t tell you how important he is (as a future stallion). We saw what he could do in Sandown, and no one believed it but they’ve seen it again today.

“He has all the options; he could go back to a mile. He powered out of the gates and was there cantering and Christophe took him back and let him relax and then he was back a little bit.

“All the things are open to him, but I’m afraid to say in case the lads say, ‘That’s the end’, which is very possible, but it mightn’t be!

“He’s a hardy customer; he’s not for kids. You saw him at the press day; he’s like a big tiger. He’s not simple, he’s just hardy. He’s so far from a wimp. You saw him that day, he’ll go up and he’ll bring you with him but he’s very genuine, you can see his head out and down.

“Christophe is a world-class, big race jockey. That’s what makes him different. He was back a lot further than I’d say he thought he was going to be. Incredible.”

”A bit naughty”

Soumillon remarked upon Delacroix’s personality presenting itself in the stalls.

“He was a bit naughty in the gates, and I was lucky to have some help to keep him calm,” the Belgian revealed.

“He jumped out really fast but when I saw the pace was on, I preferred to give him a chance and got some cover. He travelled so well to the turn, and he reacted so well when I pushed the button.

“I saw Chris coming late, but my horse is a superstar. He loves that ground. When we walked on the track today, Aidan gave me some good tips and it worked quite well.”

The disappointment of the race was Zahrann, who trailed in seventh of the eight runners. Johnny Murtagh’s three-year-old was always in rear, having been reportedly upset in the stalls.