Delacroix's Derby odds contracted after he delivered a dominant victory in the Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown.
The son of Dubawi was a top-class juvenile last season and was one of three Aidan O’Brien-trained colts in the line up for the Group Three.
Acapulco Bay and Cashel Rock were the other two, with Tennessee Stud, trained by O’Brien’s son Joseph and also owned by Coolmore, joining the field alongside Juddmonte and Dermot Weld’s Purview.
Delacroix holds a raft of top level entries, including in both the Epsom Derby and the Irish Derby, and left the stalls the 1-3 favourite under Wayne Lordan to test his claims on those events.
It was a test he passed with flying colours and having raced prominently, he had no trouble in accelerating away from his rivals to score by two and three-quarter lengths from Purview.
Delacroix takes the Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial Stakes and cements claims for the Epsom Derby in June! ✅@waynemlordan | @Ballydoyle pic.twitter.com/FNzAReyR1N
— Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) May 11, 2025
"Wayne got a lovely lead into it, when he got after him a furlong and a half out the most impressive part was he really lengthened and quickened to the line," said Chris Armstrong, stable representative.
"Wayne said going to the line he was having a good look which is a good sign there is plenty left in there.
"It’s all roads to Epsom now. His homework has been very good since here the last day. He’s come forward lovely and all being well, he’ll come forward again."
Lordan, who was unseated en route to the start, added: "He was a bit fresh and when we got out on the track, he went a bit quicker than I wanted to go and when we met the rail gravity took over.
"He was straight forward after that. He can go at a good tempo and quicken as well which is the sign of a good horse."
Vera's Secret showed her rivals a clean pair of heels to win the Al Shira’aa Racing 'Mutamakina’ Stakes.
The six-year-old, trained by John Feane and ridden by Seamie Heffernan, was making her seasonal bow having last been seen coming home fifth in the Listed Concorde Stakes at Tipperary in October.
She was an 11-2 chance to hit her stride instantly when stepping up to Group Three level, and quickly took the lead to make all of the running.
It was a position she did not surrender as the race developed and in fact she only pulled further clear, eventually prevailing by four lengths from Gavin Cromwell’s Fiery Lucy.
"She’s entered in the Lanwades Stud Stakes and later on in the year will probably come back here for the Matron Stakes, but that is a long way off," said the winning trainer. "She doesn’t take too much running.
"She will come on for that run today. She is over 600 kilos and takes plenty of work at home. She’s a tough bit of stuff."
Chicago Critic struck for Johnny Murtagh and Ben Coen when taking the Porsche In Support Of Breast Cancer Ireland Amethyst Stakes at 14-1.
The complexion of the race changed when Aidan O'Brien’s Diego Velazquez, the clear favourite, became very unsettled in the stalls and was withdrawn.
A field of six therefore went forward to contest the Listed event, and under a patient ride it was the chestnut who came to the fore by a length and three-quarters.
Coen said: "He’s a talented horse. We’ve kind of been messing around a bit with trips for him from a mile to six (furlongs) but I think a mile and fast ground is ideal for him.
"We didn’t go quick today, and I had a good turn of foot towards the end. It’s nice to get his head in front again."
