Galileo’s Jan Brueghel secures Classic glory in the St Leger
Jan Brueghel (3 c ex Devoted To You by Danehill Dancer) maintained his unbeaten record when he wore down his stablemate Illinois (Galileo) to provide Aidan O’Brien with the one-two and an eighth win in the English St Leger (Gr 1, 1m 6.5f) at Doncaster on Saturday.
Ridden by Sean Levey, Jan Brueghel went into the race with a perfect record of three wins, including two at Group 3 level, and the colt extended that run to four when he defeated Illinois by a neck. Sunway (Galiway) finished a further nose back in third.
It’s a 1-2 finish in the Gr.1 St Leger for GALILEO and @Ballydoyle with Jan Brueghel beating Illinois in a duel to the finish. Jan Brueghel races for Westerberg and the Coolmore partners. Bred by @BarronstownStud.#CoolmoreSires #HomeOfChampions https://t.co/MmA7r2i6Bh
— Coolmore (@coolmorestud) September 14, 2024
Levey spent much of his early career with O’Brien at Ballydoyle, where his late father had worked.
“He’d [father] be very proud, no doubt,” said Levey, who was adding a second British Classic to his 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) win aboard Billesdon Brook (Champs Elysees). “The first thing he’d definitely say is thank you to Aidan, [owners] Mr Magnier, Mrs Magnier, the whole team, Mr Van Opel, everyone concerned. To finally get a nice race for them is a great thing for me, personally.
“We knew the track would suit and the trip would suit. I think he’s showed he’s successful going that extra distance and I think he’s a Gold Cup horse in the making. Don’t be surprised if he steps up a bit next year, but he has a bit of class and he’s done that really well.
Raced by a strong group of owners which include Westerberg, John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, Jan Brueghel is out of Danehill Dancer (Danehill) mare Devoted To You, making him a brother to five winners including Group 1 scorer Sovereign.
In winning the Classic, Jan Brueghel became the 101st Group 1 winner for Coolmore’s late perennial stallion Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) and the sire’s fourth winner of the St Leger.
Economics shines in Irish Champion Stakes
British raider Economics (3 c Night Of Thunder – La Pomme D’Amour by Peintre Celebre) produced a brave performance to win the Irish Champions Stakes (Gr 1, 1m 2f) at Leopardstown, denying Auguste Rodin (Deep Impact) back-to-back wins in the Group 1.
Sent off the 7-4 market leader following wins in the Dante Stakes (Gr 2, 1m 2.5f) and Prix Guillaume d’Ornano (Gr 2, 2000m), the William Haggas-trained three-year-old colt hit the lead inside the final furlong under Tom Marquand and, when tackled by Auguste Rodin, he gamely denied the Aidan O’Brien-trained runner-up to score by a neck.
𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐬 remains unbeaten this year and records his third consecutive Group success in the Gr1 Irish Champion Stakes under Tom Marquand on Irish Champions Weekend! Congratulations to his owner Isa Salman Al Khalifa, his regular rider Ricky and the entire team 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/hxlWvwipNh
— Somerville Lodge Stables (@WilliamHaggas) September 14, 2024
“It was a relief,” Haggas told RacingTV. “Tom was keen not to be too far back today and he rode a copybook race. I loved the horse’s head carriage, he really put his head down. I’m really pleased with him, he’s coming along nicely.”
When asked if the best was yet to come, the trainer responded: “I don’t know but he’s got a big future. We won’t overdo him this year.”
The next port of call for Economics will be the British Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 1m 2f) on October 19 and he was propelled into 6-4 favouritism (from 3-1) for the Ascot Group 1 by bookmakers.
“It was always the plan to go for the Champion,” Haggas said. “It’s great as Sheikh Isa puts a lot into the game and I’m absolutely thrilled to bits for him.”
Shin Emperor (Siyouni), the Japanese raider, finished an honourable third under Ryusei Sakai and the three-year-old’s trainer Yoshito Yahagi will now attempt to secure his country a first win in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr 1, 2400m) at Longchamp next month.
Having originally been purchased for 42,000gns by Hazelwood Bloodstock at the 2021 Tattersalls December Foal Sale, Economics was then bought by Highclere Agency for 160,000gns at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale the following year.
Owned by Isa Salman Al Khalifa, the colt is the sixth foal out of the Group 2-winning mare La Pomme D’Amour (Peintre Celebre), herself a sister to Listed winner Van Gosh.
The win provided Night Of Thunder (Dubawi) with his fourth Group 1 winner. The stallion stands at Kildangan Stud and is available for covers on southern hemisphere time at a fee of €60,000 (approx. AU$99,080). Economics joins Highfield Princess, Thundering Nights and Queensland Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Kukeracha as the stallion’s other Group 1 winners.
101 for Galileo
Jan Brueghel (3 c ex Devoted To You by Danehill Dancer) became the 101st individual elite-level winner for Coolmore’s late perennial stallion Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) when taking out the English St Leger Stakes (Gr 1, 1m 6.5f) at Doncaster on Saturday. Coming into the race with an unbeaten record of three wins, including two at Group 3 level, the colt extended that run to four in beating Illinois (Galileo) by a neck, providing a one-two in the race for trainer Aidan O’Brien. Sunway (Galiway) finished a further nose back in third. Raced by a partnership that includes Westerberg, John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, Jan Brueghel is a brother to five winners including Group 1 scorer Sovereign, being the ninth foal out of the winning Danehill Dancer (Danehill) mare Devoted To You. Jan Brueghel is the fourth son of Galileo to win the English St Leger with Sixties Icon landing the race in 2006, while Capri and Kew Gardens were successful in the Classic in 2017 and 2018 respectively.
Four for Night Of Thunder
Darley’s former shuttler Night Of Thunder (Dubawi) sired his fourth individual elite-level winner on Saturday when the William Haggas-trained Economics (3 c ex La Pomme D’Amour by Peintre Celebre) bravely landed the Irish Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 1m 2f) at Leopardstown. Having originally been purchased for 42,000gns by Hazelwood Bloodstock at the 2021 Tattersalls December Foal Sale, Economics was then bought by Highclere Agency for 160,000gns out of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale the following year. Owned by Isa Salman Al Khalifa, the colt is the sixth foal out of the dual Group 2-winning mare La Pomme D’Amour (Peintre Celebre), herself a sister to Listed winner Van Gosh. Night Of Thunder, who stands at Kildangan Stud, is available for covers on southern hemisphere time at a fee of €60,000 (approx. AU$99,080). Economics joins Highfield Princess, Thundering Nights and Queensland Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Kukeracha as the stallion’s other Group 1 winners.
50 for Wootton Bassett
With Wootton Bassett’s (Iffraaj) much anticipated first Australasian crop about to hit the tracks in the southern hemisphere, the stallion has done nothing recently in the northern hemisphere but bolster the confidence of breeders in Australia and New Zealand who sent their mares to the Coolmore Stud-base shuttler since he arrived at Coolmore Australia in 2021. On Saturday, the stallion’s brilliant season continued apace as he sired a pair of new individual juvenile stakes winners in the space of half an hour, with the first coming courtesy of the Ger Lyons-trained Chantez (2 f ex Lady Lara by Excellent Art), who brought up Wootton Bassett’s half–century of stakes winners when she won the Ingabelle Stakes (Listed, 7f) at Leopardstown. The filly went into the race off the back of her maiden triumph at the same venue last month and she defeated the Aidan O’Brien-trained Garden Of Eden (Saxon Warrior) by three-quarters of a length with the runner-up’s stable companion Bubbling (No Nay Never) finishing a further head away in third. Purchased by her owners Newtown Anner Stud for 220,000gns out of Book 1 at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2023, Chantez is out of Grade 2 scorer Lady Lara (Excellent Art), making her a half-sister to Royal Ascot Group 2 winner Changingoftheguard (Galileo).
51 for Wootton Bassett
In the next race on the card on Irish Champions Day at Leopardstown, Wootton Bassett was handed his 51st individual stakes winner courtesy of Green Impact’s (2 c ex Emerald Green by Galileo) hard-fought win in the Champions Juvenile Stakes (Gr 2, 1m). Trained by Jessica Harrington, the filly defeated the Aidan O’Brien pair Delacroix (Dubawi) and Bernard Shaw (Into Mischief), with the former finishing half a length behind the winner, while the latter was another three-quarters of a length away in third. Green Impact is bred and raced by Marc Chan, whose racing manager Jamie McCalmont Bloodstock purchased the colt’s dam Emerald Green for 475,000gns at the 2021 Tattersalls December Mare Sale when carrying the Green Impact in utero. Emerald Green is out of winning mare Applauded (Royal Applause) making her a half-sister to stakes-winning pair Mirage (Oasis Dream) and Amnesia (Invincible Spirit). Applauded is a half-sister to Irish 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) winner Power (Oasis Dream), who stands at Oaklands Stud in Queensland, and to Canadian Grade 1 scorer Curvy (Galileo). In winning their respective contests on Saturday, Green Impact and Chantez moved Wootton Bassett’s total number of individual juvenile stakes winners since the turn of the year in the northern hemisphere to eight, with this his first crop conceived at Coolmore’s Irish base. Wootton Bassett is covering his fourth book of mares at Coolmore Australia, standing for a fee of $192,500 (inc GST), up from $93,500 (inc GST) last year. Harrington said the Green Impact will be aimed at the Classics next season.
27 for Churchill
Coolmore shuttler Churchill (Galileo) chalked up his 27th individual stakes winner on Saturday when Trustyourinstinct (4 g ex Gussy Goose by Danehill Dancer) scored in the Kilternan Stakes (Gr 3, 1m 4f) at Leopardstown. Having run second on his last two outings, both at Group 3 level, including behind subsequent St Leger Stakes hero Jan Brueghel, the Joseph O’Brien-trained four-year-old improved again on Saturday to beat long-time leader Kinesiology (Study Of Man) by a length and three-quarters. Thunder Roll (Night Of Thunder) finished a further nose back in third place. Racing in the colours of prominent owner JP McManus, the gelding is the third foal out of the winning mare Gussy Goose, herself a sister to Group-placed winner After, who is the dam of Group 2 winner turned Mapperley Stud-based sire Armory (Galileo), and a half-sister to Listed winner Temps Au Temps (Invincible Spirit). Churchill is standing at Coolmore Australia for a fee of $19,800 (inc GST), which is slightly down from the $22,000 (inc GST) he stood for in 2023.
15 for New Bay
Ballylinch Stud resident New Bay (Dubawi) chalked up his 15th individual stakes winner on Saturday when Bay City Roller (2 c ex Bloomfield by Teofilo) landed the Champagne Stakes (Gr 2, 7f) at Doncaster. Ridden by Callum Shepherd for trainer George Scott in the colours of Victorious Racing, the colt proved a half-length too good for the Aidan O’Brien-trained Monumental (Kingman) after a protracted battle inside the final furlong. The runner-up’s stablemate, Aftermath (Justify), finished a further two and a half lengths back in third place. Bay City Roller was purchased by Clive Washbourn, JS Bloodstock, and his trainer for €320,000 at Book 1 of the 2023 Goffs Orby Yearling Sale. A half-brother to three-time winner Botanical (Lope De Vega), he is the third foal out of the Listed-winning Teofilo (Galileo) mare Bloomfield, who is herself a three-quarter sister to Group 3 winner Primo Luce (Galileo), the dam Listed scorer Emmaus (Invincible Spirit).
IRE: Fourth Group 1 for star filly Porta Fortuna
Donnacha O’Brien’s stable star Porta Fortuna (3 f Caravaggio – Too Precious by Holy Roman Emperor) landed her fourth elite-level contest on Saturday when she proved too good for her eight rivals in the Matron Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Leopardstown. Ridden by Tom Marquand, the filly, who had won the Coronation Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) and Falmouth Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) on her previous two outings, adding to her juvenile success in the Cheveley Park Stakes (Gr 1, 6f), quickened stylishly to lead with over a furlong left to race and was ridden clear to beat Irish 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) winner Fallen Angel (Too Darn Hot), who was having her first start for Wathan Racing. Soprano (Starspangledbanner) finished a further half-length back in third place. “She’s electric and proved again she’s the best in this division,” the winning rider said. “She killed the race in three strides and hasn’t done a tap in front but she never gives you a moment’s worry. She’s an absolute star.”
IRE: Diego Velazquez too good in Solonaway Stakes
After returning to form with a seven-length demolition of his rivals in the Meld Stakes (Gr 3, 1m 1f) last time out, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Diego Velazquez (3 c Frankel – Sweepstake by Acclamation) continued his resurgence when scoring in Saturday’s Solonaway Stakes (Gr 2, 1m) at Leopardstown. Having landed the Champions Juvenile Stakes on the same card in 2023, the three-year-old colt was again not for stopping as he found plenty under pressure inside the closing stages under Ryan Moore to beat Mutasarref (Dark Angel) by a length and a half. The winner’s stablemate, Mountain Bear (No Nay Never), ran a further head behind in third.
UK: Kinross surges back to form in Park Stakes
Evergreen seven-year-old Kinross (7 g Kingman – Ceilidh House by Selkirk) bounced right back to something like his best when comfortably scoring in Saturday’s Park Stakes (Gr 2, 7f) at Doncaster. It was the Marc Chan-owned gelding’s second success in the Group 2 contest having landed it in 2022. The seven-year-old was ridden by Rossa Ryan for trainer Ralph Beckett and, having cruised to the lead with over a furlong left to run, was merely pushed out to defeat Lead Artist (Dubawi) by two lengths. Shouldvebeenaring (Havana Grey) finished a further two and a quarter lengths back in third.
UK: Al Qareem goes back-to-back in Stand Cup Stakes
Having defeated subsequent Group 1-winning filly Bluestocking (Camelot) by a neck in the 2023 edition of Chester’s Stand Cup Stakes (Listed, 1m 4f), Al Qareem (5 g Awtaad – Moqla by Teofilo) made it successive victories in the Listed contest on Saturday. Ridden by Pierre-Louis Jamin, the Karl Burke-trained five-year-old made all and kicked clear entering the final two furlongs before being eased near the finish, beating Cristal Clere (Harzand) by two and three-quarter lengths. There was a further two lengths back to the third-placed La Yakel (Time Test).