Delacroix enhanced his Derby prospects with a decisive front-running victory in the P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien had saddled 11 previous winners of this recognised early-season Derby trial, with subsequent Epsom heroes Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002) joined on an illustrious roll of honour by four-time Gold Cup hero Yeats (2004) and multiple Group One winner Fame And Glory (2009).
Delacroix, a son of Dubawi out of the top-class racemare Tepin, won two of his five juvenile starts, including the Group Three Autumn Stakes at Newmarket, and rounded off his campaign with a nose second to Jessica Harrington’s Hotazhell in Doncaster’s Futurity Trophy.
Ryan Moore’s mount was all the rage to make a successful return at Group Three level over a mile and a quarter and those who took the cramped odds of 4-7 will have had few concerns, with Delacroix sent straight to the lead and pulling clear late on for an emphatic two-and-a-quarter-length success over stablemate Lambourn.
Paddy Power trimmed the winner’s Derby odds to 10-1 from 16-1, putting him third in the Irish firm’s betting behind stable companions The Lion In Winter and Twain at 7-2 and 7-1 respectively.
DELACROIX gallops into the Derby picture after delivering in the Group 3 P.W. McGrath Ballysax Stakes on seasonal debut for @Ballydoyle. pic.twitter.com/1zYZzODej8
— Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) March 30, 2025
O’Brien said: "You’d have to be very happy. He was always babyish and he still is babyish, but he is growing up.
"I think he’ll come back here (for the Derby Trial) if everything is well, and racing will only help him. We always thought he would stay well and he’s a fine, big, powerful horse. He’ll improve plenty fitness wise.
"He quickened very well in the straight and is not a horse that will over race."
Meanwhile, Henri Matisse finished with a flourish to make a winning start to his three-year-old campaign in the Ballylinch Stud "Red Rocks" Stakes.
The Wootton Bassett colt took high rank in the juvenile division last season, winning four of his six starts including victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar.
A tilt at the Irish 1,000 Guineas could be on the agenda for Swelter following an impressive display in the Ballylinch Stud "Priory Belle" Stakes earlier in that Leopardstown card.
Making her first appearance since scoring on debut at the Foxrock track over a mile last July, the Juddmonte-owned Kingman filly was a 6-1 shot as she stepped up in class but down in trip for this seven-furlong Group Three.
