By Tom Frary
Ballydoyle's Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was fully expected to mark his seasonal debut with a win in Sunday's G3 P. W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown and the 4-7 favourite did not disappoint. Always comfortable on the front under Ryan Moore, last year's G3 Autumn Stakes winner and G1 Futurity Trophy runner-up kicked decisively two out to settle matters. At the line, the leading Derby prospect had 2 1/4 lengths to spare over stablemate Lambourn (Ire) (Australia {GB}), with Tiberius Thunder (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) 1 1/4 lengths behind in third.
Aidan O'Brien, who was registering a dozen winners of this Derby pointer, said of the TDN Rising Star, “He was very green last year and again today–he still is babyish, but he is growing up. I think he'll come back here for the [G3] Derby Trial if everything is well and racing will only help him. We always felt there was a lot in there and we thought he would stay well. He's a fine big, powerful horse and should have learnt plenty today. He'll improve plenty fitness-wise. He quickened very well in the straight and is not a horse that will over-race.”
Straightforward 🟪⬜️
Delacroix, beaten a nose in the William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes, runs away with the Ballysax Stakes on seasonal return.
He's been cut into 10/1 (from 16/1) for the Derby.@LeopardstownRC | @Ballydoyle pic.twitter.com/V6ErWu34oZ
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 30, 2025
Pedigree Notes
Delacroix is the final foal out of the five-times top-level-winning Breeders' Cup Mile and Queen Anne Stakes heroine Tepin (Bernstein), who is also responsible for last year's G1 Prix de Royallieu scorer Grateful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). She is also a half to the multiple graded-stakes winner VY Jack (Into Mischief).
Sunday, Leopardstown, Ireland
P.W. MCGRATH MEMORIAL BALLYSAX STAKES-G3, €60,000, Leopardstown, 3-30, 3yo, 10fT, 2:06.15, g/y.
1–DELACROIX (IRE), 134, c, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Tepin (2x Champion Grass Mare, GISW-Can, G1SW-Eng, MGISW-US, $4,437,918), by Bernstein
2nd Dam: Life Happened, by Stravinsky
3rd Dam: Round It Off, by Apalachee
TDN Rising Star. O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Tepin Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €36,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Eng, 6-3-3-0, $196,245. *1/2 to Grateful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G1SW-Fr, GSW-Ire, GSP-Eng, $269,515. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Lambourn (Ire), 131, c, 3, Australia (GB)–Gossamer Wings, by Scat Daddy.
1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €12,000.
3–Tiberius Thunder (Ire), 131, c, 3, Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Ellthea (Ire), by Kodiac (GB).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (120,000gns Wlg '22 TADEWE; 220,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT). O-AMO Racing Limited & Giselle De Aguiar; B-Castle Farm Stud (IRE); T-Adrian Murray. €6,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 1 1/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.57, 9.00, 12.00.
Also Ran: Puppet Master (Ire), Wemightakedlongway (Ire), Kibris (Ire), Spicy Margarita (Ire).
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