The weekend Group 1 features on both sides of the Irish Sea lived up to all the hype with exciting finishes on display at Doncaster and Leopardstown.
At Doncaster, Aidan O’Brien won an eighth Betfred St Leger Stakes as Jan Brueghel led home stablemate Illinois after a protracted battle between the two over the final two and a half furlongs.
Ballydoyle Galileo colts Jan Brueghel (Sean Levey) and Illinois (Wayne Lordan on the rail) fight out a thrilling finish to the St Leger (Pic – Ballydoyle)
The Ballydoyle-trained pair were sent off the 11/4 joint-favourites and it looked like O’Brien would win the race from a long way out. Just which one would prevail in arguably the most exciting finish to a British Classic this season.
Their stablemate Grosvenor Square took them along, but Illinois travelled up besides him powerfully with three furlongs to go, while the unbeaten Jan Brueghel was responding to pressure for jockey Sean Levey.
It got tight in the closing stages, but Jan Brueghel prevailed by a neck, ensuring a 21st Classic winner for super stallion Galileo, who was responsible for the first two home.
There was drama regarding the minor honours, as Deira Mile went past the post in third and Sunway was fourth, but those placings were reversed following a stewards’ inquiry.
Sean Levey observed post-race: “He looks like a very nice horse; he gives me the impression he could be a Gold Cup horse next year maybe.”
The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown was packed with Group 1 scorers, the likes of last year’s winner and dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin, this year’s Irish Derby and Great Voltigeur victor Los Angeles, and 2022 race winner and Coronation Cup scorer Luxembourg, but for all that English raider Economics was sent off 7-4 favourite and delivered a hard-earned victory.
The three-year-old looked something special when a devastating six-length winner of the Dante at York in May and confirmed that promise when taking the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville last month with relative ease. This was his biggest test, a huge step up in class.
Luxembourg took them along, dictating the gallop. Auguste Rodin was a bit keen early, but Moore soon got him settled in the rear with cover. Economics was forced wide.
Pulled wide with two furlongs to go, Auguste Rodin began his challenge. Luxembourg still led, Ghostwriter was second, Economics, ridden more prominently, was responding to Tom Marquand’s urgings in third.
Moore had Auguste Rodin in front when it looked like he leaned into and intimidated the running on Economics, the pair suddenly away from their rivals as their class kicked in. Economics looked to be headed, he looked beat, but Marquand conjured one last, brave, effort from the white-faced son of Night Of Thunder.
Economics showed a tremendous attitude to battle past Auguste Rodin in the closing stages, vindicated his connections’ decision not to supplement for the Derby. He should prove hard to beat in the Champion Stakes at Ascot next month.
