‘Big tiger’ Delacroix delivers another Irish Champion for Aidan O’Brien

Christophe Soumillon excelled aboard Delacroix, as they stormed to Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes glory at Leopardstown.

A beaten favourite in the Derby, the son of Dubawi has thrived dropped back to 10 furlongs since, flying home to land the Coral-Eclipse earlier in the summer and now bouncing back from defeat in the Juddmonte International Stakes to register his second Group One of the season.

Soumillon – deputising for the injured Ryan Moore – was in no rush aboard the 2-1 market leader, with Delacroix finding himself among a cluster of four, including Owen Burrows’ second-favourite Anmaat, White Birch and Johnny Murtagh’s well-regarded Zahrann, towards the rear of the field.

With Aidan O’Brien-trained stablemate Mount Kilimanjaro setting the fractions, the complexion of the race would swiftly change when the runners entered the straight and Soumillon received an immediate response when he asked Delacroix to improve his position, swooping quickly to the front inside the final quarter of a mile.

Chris Hayes sent Anmaat quickly in pursuit, but Delacroix’s turn of foot had already done the damage and he came home three-quarters of a length ahead of the British raider to give O’Brien a record-extending 13th victory in the race.

“He’s some horse to quicken. He did the same in Sandown, he’s so quick,” said O’Brien.

“We knew York was only a sprint down the straight really.

“It was an even, strong-run race. He was very confident on him and took his time on him. When he said go, he just took off.

“It was a solid race, he was happy, he obviously had a little bit to do on him but when he said go on him, you could see the quickness he has.

“What he did in Sandown was very unusual, you don’t see horses do that. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a horse do what he did in Sandown and he did it again today.

“He ran there, when you said go he was gone. In two strides it was over. He wasn’t there and next thing he was gone. He looked like he wasn’t in the picture and next thing he was in front.

“The lads can decide what they want to do. He has all the options.”

Delacroix is a son of the exceptional Dubawi out of champion racemare Tepin, making him a valuable stallion prospect for owners Coolmore.

When asked if that could be the last time he races, O’Brien said: “It could be. I can’t tell you how important he is.

“We saw what he could do in Sandown and no one believed it but they’ve seen again today.

“He has all the options, he could go back to a mile. He powered out of the gates and was there cantering and Christophe took him back and let him relax and then he was back a little bit.

“All the things are open to him but I’m afraid to say in case the lads say ‘that’s the end’, which is very possible, but it mightn’t be.

“He’s a hardy customer, he’s not for kids. You saw him at the press day, he’s like a big tiger. He’s not simple, he’s just hardy. He’s so far from a wimp. You saw that day, he’ll go up and he’ll bring you with him but he’s very genuine, you can see his head out and down.”

O’Brien hailed Soumillon’s ride, as well as the jockey’s ability to handle the pressure of slotting into the team ahead of such a key fixture.

He added: “Christophe is a world-class big-race jockey. That’s what makes him different, he didn’t mind.

“He was back a lot further than I’d say he thought he was going to be. Incredible.”

Like most racing fans, Soumillon will be hoping Delacroix heads to Ascot for the Qipco Champion Stakes on October 18, in what would be an eagerly-awaited third clash with John and Thady Gosden’s Godolphin-owned Ombudsman.

The Belgian rider told Racing TV: “For Aidan’s team and Coolmore it was important to show how good that horse is.

“I think today everybody was like myself and a bit amazed. Each time I have seen his races he has had a flat spot, but today he was cruising all the way and when I came to the inside he passed everybody in three strides and I was like ‘oh, maybe I have come too soon’, but Aidan’s horses are really tough and they know their job.

“Softer ground will be no problem to him, so that leaves a lot (of options) for the end of the season. I think he can still perform just a bit better (still), we know the next step will probably be the Champion Stakes in Ascot, that is down to the trainer and the team (but) that looks to be the logical (race).

“We will have a nice fight (as in boxing) in four weeks’ time or a bit more, another big fight in Ascot. He’s a superstar and that’s what we love in racing. I remember Galileo and Fantastic Light fighting here and in Ascot. That’s what people want, to make sure they know who is best. That’s what we need in racing.”