Aidan O’Brien Domination Continues as Benvenuto Cellini Outclasses Golden Fleece Rivals

[Wandering Eyes]

Christophe Soumillon was forced into switching mounts, taking up piloting duties aboard Killarney maiden winner Benvenuto Cellini (Frankel) after TDN Rising Star Montreal (Sea The Stars) was scratched, in Saturday's G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes–formerly known as the Golden Fleece Stakes–and the rider continued on a winning roll as the son of Newspaperofrecord (Lope De Vega) stepped forward to claim a career high in the one-mile contest.

“He's a lovely horse and a great mover by Frankel out of a very good mare,” said Aidan O'Brien. “He's been going well at home and Christophe [Soumillon] gave him a very uncomplicated ride. He's a smasher, he's got a big open stride, he's genuine and he cruises. He looks like he's going to be a lovely middle-distance horse and Christophe thinks he feels like a French Derby horse. He can go again this year, maybe in the Racing Post [G1 Futurity Trophy] or one of the French [Group 1] races [at ParisLongchamp and Saint-Cloud], and then start in one of the Derby trials next year.”

The 1-2 favourite bowled along in second for the most part as Hardy Warrior (Pinatubo) set the tempo up front. Sent wide into the straight for a narrow advantage passing the quarter-mile marker, he was beyond recall thereafter and powered clear underneath the stands' side rail inside the final furlong to easily outclass the pacesetting Hardy Warrior by five lengths. Nil Bua Gan Dua (American Pharoah) was a half-length away in third, a nose in front of A Boy Named Suzie (Starspangledbanner).

 

Benvenuto Cellini is bred to be top-class and the Frankel colt is very good in the Group 2 @KPMG_Ireland Champions Juvenile Stakes, scoring under Christophe Soumillon for Aidan O'Brien @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/AjUzUhIzdB

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 13, 2025

 

 

 

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