By Sean Cronin
Just minutes after stablemate Henri Matisse (Wootton Bassett) secured G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains glory in France, Aidan O'Brien nominee and TDN Rising Star Delacroix (Dubawi) laid his Classic credentials on the line in Leopardstown's G3 Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial Stakes and passed with flying colours, registering a 2 3/4-length triumph in the 10-furlong test.
Last seen annexing March's G3 Ballysax Stakes over the Foxrock venue's same mile-and-a-quarter strip, the 1-3 favourite accepted a tow from stablemate Rock Of Cashel (Wootton Bassett) and raced second after breaking on the lead. Easing to the fore off the home turn, he was beyond recall after quickening clear approaching the furlong pole and hit the line with a comfortable buffer. Juddmonte's Dermot Weld trainee Purview (Kingman) finished second, four lengths ahead of Joseph O'Brien contender Tennessee Stud (Wootton Bassett) in third. First or second in all seven starts, Delacroix also annexed last term's G3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket and ran second in both G2 Golden Fleece Stakes and G1 Futurity Trophy.
“Gavin [Ryan] went along at an even tempo [aboard Rock Of Cashel] and Wayne [Lordan] got a lovely lead into it,” reflected Ballydoyle's Chris Armstrong. “When he got after him, a furlong-and-a-half out, the most impressive part was he really lengthened and quickened to the line. Wayne said going to the line he was having a good look, which is a good sign there is plenty left in there. His homework has been very good since here the last day, he's come forward lovely and all being well he'll come forward again. It's on to Epsom now.”
Pedigree Notes
Delacroix, one of his sires 192 pattern-race winners, is the latest of four foals and one of two scorers from as many runners out of multiple Grade I-winning dual US champion Tepin (Bernstein), who also bagged Royal Ascot's G1 Queen Anne Stakes. Tepin, whose other winner is last term's G1 Prix de Royallieu heroine Grateful (Galileo), is a full-sister to GII Peter Pan Stakes and GIII Coolmore Lexington Stakes placegetter Prime Cut. She is also kin to three-time Grade II winner Vyjack (Into Mischief). Delacroix's stakes-placed third dam Round It Off (Apalachee), who produced dual Grade III-winning sire Disco Rico (Citidancer), is a half-sister to GII Ladies Handicap and dual GIII Carousel Stakes victrix Miss Slewpy (Slewpy).
Delacroix takes the Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial Stakes and cements claims for the Epsom Derby in June! ✅@waynemlordan | @Ballydoyle pic.twitter.com/FNzAReyR1N
— Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) May 11, 2025
Sunday, Leopardstown, Ireland
CASHEL PALACE HOTEL DERBY TRIAL STAKES-G3, €100,000, Leopardstown, 5-11, 3yo, 10fT, 2:10.59, gd.
1–DELACROIX (IRE), 131, c, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Tepin (MGISW-US, GISW-Can & G1SW-Eng, $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-Wayne Lordan. €60,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Eng, 7-4-3-0, $263,097. *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–Purview (GB), 131, c, 3, Kingman (GB)–Variable (GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms (East) Ltd (GB); T-Dermot Weld. €20,000.
3–Tennessee Stud (Ire), 131, c, 3, Wootton Bassett (GB)–In My Dreams (Ire), by Sadler's Wells. O-Westerberg, Tabor, Magnier & Smith; B-Mrs Annemarie O'Brien (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €10,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, 4, 3/4. Odds: 0.33, 11.00, 7.00.
Also Ran: Rock Of Cashel (Ire), Acapulco Bay (Ire).
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