Decisive Irish Champion Stakes Victory For Delacroix

Delacroix (3c Dubawi - Tepin, by Bernstein) captured a second Group 1 win when landing the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in fine style on Saturday.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt had run out an impressive winner of the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown in July and added further lustre to his CV with a three-quarter length success over dual top-level 1 scorer Anmaat.

Ridden by Christophe Soumillon, the son of Dubawi was prominent early on but lost ground to settle towards the back. He made smooth headway from two furlongs out and showed a fine turn of foot to win comfortably, adding to his two course and distance wins earlier this campaign.

O'Brien said: “He’s some horse to quicken. 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. He was very confident on him and took his time on him. When he said go, he just took off. It was a solid race, he was happy, but 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."

On future targets, O'Brien added: "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."

Delacroix, a half-brother to Group 1 Prix de Royallieu heroine Grateful (by Galileo), was bred by the Tepin Syndicate.