O’Brien trio sweeps Gr.1 Irish Champion Stakes While Japanese Japans Deirdre runs fourth
Ireland, Racing News, 19.09.19: Japan racing fans looked toward Ireland, as Deirdre, the first of two Japanese contenders racing abroad on the weekend, took on the Gr.1 Irish Champion Stakes.
Hopes were high both at home and among local punters that the 5yo Ritto-based mare would score her second win in a row following victory at Goodwood. Though Deirdre’s participation in an Irish race was already a first for Japan, a win at Leopardstown would make the Harbinger mare the first Japan-based horse to capture top-level races in three different countries.
Unfortunately, it was Deirdre who found herself trapped in the final stages of the race, as she found no opening on the rail long after the 8-strong field had straightened for home. Jockey Oisin Murphy finally moved Deirdre, the race third choice, out and clear with less than a furlong to go. Despite a lightning-fast drive for home, she finished in fourth place, about 3 lengths behind Magical, a 4yo filly and the race favorite.
In second some 2 1/4 lengths later was the 4yo filly Magic Wand. Following a head behind her was the 3yo colt Anthony Van Dyck in third place, which completed a three-way sweep of the top places by Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien, who fielded four of the field’s eight runners. It was O’Brien’s eighth win of the race, his first in 8 years.
Deirdre, who broke from the No. 6 gate, waited toward the rear and traveled smoothly as O’Brien’s Hunting Horn led, followed by Magical and Elarqam. Tracking them was Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck. Headman, somewhat slow out of the gate, brought up the rear behind Deirdre.
The win was the eighth from 19 starts for Magical and her third Group 1 win. Bred in Ireland, she is sired by Galileo and is out of the Pivotal mare Halfway to Heaven, Magical raced under Ryan Moore and clocked 2 minutes 6.49 seconds over the 2,000 meters of good to firm ground.
Credit: JRA