By Sean Cronin
Aidan O'Brien trainee Sergei Diaghilev (Wootton Bassett) was one-for-two heading into this second stakes start and delved into deep reserves to secure a career high in Friday's Listed Coolmore Stud Churchill Stakes, formerly known as the El Gran Senor Stakes.
He had previously beaten a quality field when shedding maiden status over six furlongs at the Curragh in May and followed up that debut score with a ninth, within five lengths of the winner King Of Cloughan, in June's Listed Windsor Castle last time.
“For some reason it never happened for him in Ascot and coming here we thought the step up in trip wouldn't be an issue,” said Ballydoyle's Chris Armstrong. “First time round a turning track, Wayne [Lordan] gave him a lovely ride. He got a lovely lead off Colin [Keane aboard Sea Of Rain] and in fairness, when Billy [Lee aboard City Of Dubai] came to him, it actually helped him and he really hit the line strong. On paper, it looked a very competitive Listed race and you could nearly say it was a Group 3. They were all there and Wayne said it rode a good race. Trip-wise, he is grand at that [one mile] and you could even bring him back to seven [furlongs]. It was lovely ground today and he'll handle an ease in the ground. He handles good ground, he won't be short of options come the end of the year and something maybe like the [G2] Champagne might suit.”
The 5-2 second favourite was swiftly into stride from the outside gate and stalked the pace in second for the most part.
Coming under pressure to launch his challenge off the home turn, he gained an edge with a quarter-mile remaining and was driven out inside the final furlong to withstand the persistent threat of City Of Dubai (Mehmas) by 3/4-of-a-length.
Sergei Diaghilev, who becomes the 92nd stakes winner for his sire, is the second foal and Listed scorer out of an unraced Galileo full-sister to seven black-type performers headed by G1 Criterium International-winning sire Johannes Vermeer, G2 Kilboy Estate Stakes victrix Elizabeth Browning and the Group 1-placed duo Wembley and Covent Garden.
The winner, whose third dam is G2 Ribblesdale Stakes victrix Miletrian (Marju), is a full-brother to the multiple Group-placed Listed King George V Cup victor Endorsement and a weanling colt. He is also kin to a yearling filly by Little Big Bear.
Listed honours for Sergei Diaghilev (Wootton Bassett) in the @coolmorestud Churchill Stakes @GowranPark1 for Aidan O'Brien and Wayne Lordan 🏆 pic.twitter.com/O3pC1sUVR0
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 7, 2026
Friday, Gowran Park, Ireland
COOLMORE STUD CHURCHILL STAKES (EL GRAN SENOR STAKES)-Listed, €50,000, Gowran, 8-7, 2yo, 8fT, 1:39.47, gd.
1–SERGEI DIAGHILEV (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Embellish (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Inca Princess (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)
3rd Dam: Miletrian (Ire), by Marju (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Westerberg, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Embellish Syndicate; T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Wayne Lordan. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $51,658. *Full to Endorsement (Ire), SW & MGSP-Ire, MGSP-Eng.
2–City Of Dubai (Ire), 131, c, 2, Mehmas (Ire)–Angels Story (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (€260,000 Ylg '25 GOFORY). O-Bond Thoroughbred Ltd; B-John Connaughton; T-Paddy Twomey. €10,000.
3–Bellesque (Ire), 126, f, 2, St Mark's Basilica (Fr)–Belesta (GB), by Xaar (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs E Irwin & Mrs John Magnier; B-Rockhart Trading Ltd; T-Joseph O'Brien. €5,000.
Margins: 3/4, 3/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 2.50, 2.25, 3.33.
Also Ran: Sea Of Rain (Ire), Venetian Power (Ire), Full Volume (Fr).
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