‘When You Say Go, It’s Over’: O’Brien Hails Delacroix After Stable’s 13th Irish Champion

[Wandering Eyes]

Capping another red-letter day for Coolmore and Team Ballydoyle and a memorable one for Christophe Soumillon, Delacroix (Dubawi) justified favouritism in style in Leopardstown's G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes. Sent off the well-supported 2-1 market-leader, the Eclipse hero sat a way off the strong pace before delivering a jaw-dropping killer kick between the three and the two as if he had just jumped in.

In command before his chief rival Anmaat (Awtaad) had time to react, Aidan O'Brien's 13th winner of this championship heat showed why Ryan Moore had picked him in the Derby as he surged up the hill. At the line, there was only 3/4 of a length between him and Shadwell's veteran which is a statement of how admirable the runner-up is, with another 2 1/4 lengths back to Royal Champion (Shamardal) who gained another Group 1 placing.

“He's an incredible horse,” O'Brien said of Tepin's final foal, who was putting the deflating experience of his Juddmonte International second firmly behind him. “When you say go on him, it's over. It's unusual, but we saw it at Sandown and we saw it again today. He's a hardy boy, a big, powerful strong horse and York was just an exercise canter really. He has all the options open to him.”

At the close of play on a momentous Saturday, Aidan O'Brien could boast the St Leger and Champagne at Doncaster as the Champions Juvenile and Ingabelle as well as this feature on this card.

DELACROIX is a fine winner of the €1.25m Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes! @LeopardstownRC | @BahrainTurfClub pic.twitter.com/WnGT9hdb2v

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 13, 2025

The post ‘When You Say Go, It’s Over’: O’Brien Hails Delacroix After Stable’s 13th Irish Champion appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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