IN a week full of classic trial joy for Ballydoyle, Delacroix put his hat in the ring as potentially the standout Aidan O’Brien contender for the Betfred Derby with a comprehensive success in the Group 3 Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial.
It was all very straightforward for Wayne Lordan on the 1/3 favourite, who was available to back at a top-priced 8/1 for Epsom glory before this, but ended up being cut to only 4/1 after scoring by two and three-quarters of a length here.
Following up a smart victory in the Ballysax Stakes here six weeks earlier, he will now bid to become the first horse since the same connections’ High Chaparral in 2002 to win this €100,000 contest and the Epsom Derby. Galileo did the same a year earlier.
“It’s all roads on to Epsom now,” said stable representative Chris Armstrong.
“When Wayne got after him with a furlong and a half to go, the most impressive part was how he really lengthened and quickened to the line. His homework has been very good since the last day. He’s come forward lovely and, all being well, he’ll come forward again. We’re looking forward to a big race at Epsom.
“Wayne said going to the line he was having a good look, which is a good sign there is plenty left in there.”
Runner-up Purview emerged with plenty of credit from this, his first start since a smart winter maiden win at Dundalk on debut. Dermot Weld was delighted with the run and said: “He has entries in the Derby at Epsom and the Curragh, and also in France. I think there will be nice improvement to come.”
Roosevelt on the up
As well as winning the French 2,000 Guineas on the same day with Henri Matisse, the Ballydoyle/Coolmore team emerged with a Leopardstown Sunday hat-trick - the first leg coming through a much-improved performance from Roosevelt (7/1) in the mile-and-a-half Captain Dara Fitzpatrick Memorial Maiden.
Wayne Lordan was allowed to dictate the pace however he liked in front, and the 950,000gns yearling by Frankel took full advantage in beating the Joseph O’Brien-trained Delta by a head.
Wings taking flight
Armstrong said: “Declan [McDonagh] spoke highly of him after his first run [when last of 10 behind Stay True]. He’s a big, burly colt and he’s still carrying plenty of condition today. He’s stepped forward from the last day and will step forward again. Wayne said he had two good blows before the line.
“He stays well. He could come back here for something like the Nijinsky and could end up an Irish Derby type or one for the Queen’s Vase for Ascot.”
Lordan brought up his own treble for the Tipperary operation when Butterfly Wings (2/1) improved past 5/6 favourite Etawa to win the 10-furlong fillies’ maiden by four lengths. The extremely well-bred daughter of Justify holds entries in the Oaks at Epsom and the Curragh, and looks likely to be much better than her introductory mark of 83.
Armstrong said: “She had run in a couple of very good maidens, and we thought she might have won by now. Hopefully that win will give her the confidence to send her to the next level.
“Wayne felt she was grand at that trip, but the best would probably be when she goes up to a mile and a half, which gives plenty of options.”
IT was an excellent afternoon for Johnny Murtagh and Ben Coen. The pair struck with a double, kicked off with a win from the impressive Zodiac Bear in the opening seven-furlong Fitz Agriplant Maiden, while Chicago Critic notched a big-race success in the Listed Porsche In Support Of Breast Cancer Ireland Amethyst Stakes.
The latter took full advantage of odds-on favourite Diego Velazquez being withdrawn at the start after getting upset in the stalls, the winner going on to beat Kortez Bay by a length and three-quarters.
Chicago Critic, owned by Sam Mencoff and Tony Smurfit, showed the benefit of his recent Cork comeback run over six furlongs (seventh in the Listed Cork Stakes) to sweep around the field at 14/1.
Coen said: “He’s a talented horse. We’ve kind of been messing around a bit with trips for him from a mile to six furlongs, but I think a mile and fast ground is ideal for him.”
Bear pounces
There was a highly impressive finishing effort from Zodiac Bear in the opening seven-furlong Fitz Agriplant Maiden, coming home powerfully from off the pace to win by four and a quarter lengths in the colours of McPeake Investments (NI) Ltd.
The race opened up significantly when 5/4 favourite Valencia was withdrawn on raceday morning, but there was plenty of market confidence behind the winner anyway, returning at 5/1 (originally 40/1 in the morning before the favourite was taken out and 15/2 in the ring).
Coen said: “He ran okay on soft ground at the Curragh on debut [when 11th]. He was very green and grabbed a hold to come forward at halfway. He picked up and then got tired on the ground.
“Back on a nicer surface today, he obviously sharpened up while still being plenty green. He’s a big unit. Last year he was a slow burner, and it was always going to be about this year with him and I think he’s going to be a horse to keep improving.”
Mighty Mister
From that same Curragh maiden won by Dupont Law that Zodiac Bear ran in on the opening day of the season, Mister Adam emerged to add further depth to the form when lunging late to get off the mark in the Breast Cancer Ireland Handicap over a mile and a half.
Trained by Ger O’Leary and ridden to victory by Joey Sheridan in the colours of Lance Bloodstock Limited, the Too Darn Hot colt built on three consistent maiden runs to take advantage of an attractive opening mark of 83. Off top weight of 10st 1lb, the well-backed 7/2 shot prevailed by a short-head from Nuit, with another neck back to the third, Booklight.
“His last maiden at the Curragh has been working out really well, but we were worried about the [drying] ground coming here,” said O’Leary.
“He didn’t handle the surface at Dundalk, but Ben Coen mentioned earlier that it was beautiful, no-excuses ground so we were happy to run. He had a good blow there - I’d say he wasn’t quite 100% - and he’ll get further in time.”
JOHNNY Feane is working back from the Group 1 Coolmore Matron Stakes with his stable star Vera’s Secret, after the 2024 Irish Champions Festival handicap scorer bossed the Group 3 Al Shira’aa Racing ‘Mutamakina’ Stakes from the front.
Given a canny ride from Seamie Heffernan, the 11/2 winner (from a morning price of 12/1) looks an improved performer as a six-year-old for Jim Browne and continued her rise through the ranks with a four-length win over the talented Fiery Lucy.
Feane said: “She’s a big strong six-year-old now, a quality filly and proved it here. With that bit of age about her, she’s more relaxed this year. She’s entered in the Lanwades Stud Stakes at the Curragh [on Guineas weekend]. We’ll probably come back here for the Matron Stakes, but that is a long way off. She doesn’t take too much running. I think she’ll come on for this; she weighs over 600kg.”
Strong Seeker
Another smart front-running performance came in the 10-furlong Leopardstown Golf And Driving Range Handicap as 100/30 favourite Cloud Seeker made it five wins in his last six starts for Andy Slattery Jr and Sr, and owner Pat Garvey.
A Racing League winner last year who has form over further, he showed a likeable attitude to beat Ceallach by a neck, potentially booking his ticket to Royal Ascot in the process.
“He idles in front and keeps a bit for himself in the finish,” said the winning trainer. “Pat likes to have a runner in Royal Ascot, so hopefully we’ll go there. He goes on any ground and jumps hurdles very well too, so he has that option too.”