Derby redemption for Delacroix in Eclipse thriller

New Paper

07-07-2025

SANDOWN Top-class jockey Ryan Moore produced Delacroix to deny Ombudsman right on the line in the £1 million (S$1.74 million) Group 1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes (2,000m) at Sandown on July 5.
Prepared by Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien, the Dubawi three-year-old colt put a line through his last-start disappointing effort in the Group 1 Epsom Derby (2,400m) on June 7 - when he finished ninth to stablemate Lambourn - to beat the favourite Ombudsman by a neck.
Improvement was expected to come from Delacroix, who won two Leopardstown Group 3 races over 2,000m this season in impressive fashion, in the small field of six. A good pointer was Moore sticking to Delacroix despite his last-start flop.
But those who were still in his corner must have felt their faith was misplaced when Delacroix was shuffled back to last despite jumping on terms to settle in third behind Sosie (Maxime Guyon) and Hotazhell (Shane Foley) in the early stages.
As soon as Godolphin's two leading fancies, Group 1 2000 Guineas (1,600m) winner Ruling Court (Oisin Murphy) and Royal Ascot scorer Ombudsman (William Buick) rushed forward, Delacroix suddenly found himself at the tail, with stablemate Camille Pissarro (Christophe Soumillon) for company.
Into the home straight, Sosie hung on strongly on the rails but he was no match for the challengers. Both Ombudsman and Camille Pissarro made rapid ground, with the former hitting the front 200m out, but out from the rear, it was Delacroix who came throwing down the gauntlet.
As he got into the clear, the $26 shot hunted down Ombudsman to go and snatch his maiden Group 1 win in the shadows of the post.
The Charlie Appleby-trained Ruling Court took third, with O'Brien's Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner Camille Pissarro in fourth.
Moore, a four-time Longines World's Best Jockey, had to call on all his artistry in the saddle to pull his mount to the outside and nab Ombudsman in the dying strides.
"It wasn't the first, second or third plan, as no one really wanted to make it," said Moore.
"William (Buick on Ombudsman) got first run on me, but he's a very good horse with a mighty turn of foot.
"They went steady for this class of horse, but his turn of foot made the difference."
Moore has won five Eclipse Stakes and combined with O'Brien on four of them. His last three victories atop StMark's Basilica (2021), Paddington (2023) and CityofTroy (2024) were also prepared by the master trainer.
He won with Notnowcato in the 2007 Eclipse Stakes for the now-retired legendary trainer Sir Michael Stoute. AFP