11-05-2025
Delacroix states Derby case with impressive Trial triumph
Acapulco Bay and Cashel Rock were the other two, with Tennessee Stud, trained by O'Brien's son Joseph and also owned by Coolmore, joining the field alongside Juddmonte and Dermot Weld's Purview.
Delacroix holds a raft of top level entries, including in both the Epsom Derby and the Irish Derby, and left the stalls the 1-3 favourite under Wayne Lordan to test his claims on those events.
It was a test he passed with flying colours and having raced prominently, he had no trouble in accelerating away from his rivals to score by two and three-quarter lengths from Purview.
'Wayne got a lovely lead into it, when he got after him a furlong and a half out the most impressive part was he really lengthened and quickened to the line,' said Chris Armstrong, stable representative.
'Wayne said going to the line he was having a good look which is a good sign there is plenty left in there.
'It's all roads to Epsom now. 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.'
Lordan, who was unseated en route to the start, added: 'He was a bit fresh and when we got out on the track, he went a bit quicker than I wanted to go and when we met the rail gravity took over.
'He was straight forward after that. He can go at a good tempo and quicken as well which is the sign of a good horse.'
Delacroix's Derby odds were cut from 8-1 to 4-1 with Coral, while Paddy Power make him a 4-1 chance having previously priced him at 6-1.
