The consistency of Johnny Murtagh's Alakazi was rewarded with a brilliant victory in the Tonybet Solonaway Stakes at Leopardstown.
The mount of Ben Coen was sent off 7-2 after some fine placed efforts in useful company since shedding his maiden over course and distance in April and although facing what on paper looked his stiffest task to date, he produced a performance which suggests bigger days could lie ahead.
Ridden with patience in the early stages, he swooped to the front in decisive fashion once the field straightened for home and kept on galloping to register a convincing length and a quarter success.
Johnny Murtagh also doubles up at Leopardstown as Ben Coen guides the unexposed Alakazi to victory in the TonyBet Solonaway Stakes #IrishChampionsWeekend pic.twitter.com/lYRGscnKBs
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 13, 2025
"You dream about days like today," said Murtagh.
"I’ve been telling Pat Downes (of the Aga Khan Studs) all year how good this horse was.
"He was a bit of a work in progress. He was a bit aggressive earlier in the year, Ben was saying he’s not on the bridle or off the bridle.
"His last few bits of work have been great, he’s learning on the job. We were a little bit disappointed he didn’t win the last time, but we knew coming here that he was going to be a different proposition.
"He’s a beautiful horse and a beautiful horse to train. I think he can go all the way."
Alakazi holds an entry for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on British Champions Day and Murtagh is inclined to let the colt take his chance.
He added: "He’s in at Ascot. He probably doesn’t want the ground too soft, Ben said he handled that ground really well. I think he deserves a shot at it, he’s after winning a Group Two.
"I’d love to keep him for next year as well."
It was a fine afternoon for Alakazi’s handler, who also landed the valuable Irish Stallion Farms EBF Sovereign Path Handicap with Rahmi.
The 14-1 scorer provided apprentice jockey Rory Mulligan a red-letter winner on the big stage with his trainer full of praise for the ride.
Rahmi (14-1) finishes with a wet sail under apprentice Rory Mulligan to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Sovereign Path Handicap for Johhny Murtagh #IrishChampionsWeekend pic.twitter.com/QOf3DpI4c9
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 13, 2025
Murtagh said: "Rory is one of my apprentices and he’s been working hard.
"I said to him to take his medicine (from stall 16), cruise around behind them and get a bit of cover as best you can and then in the straight peel him to the outside.
"I had four horses and I was shouting for each one of them at different stages. It was a kick great and when I saw him coming down I knew he was going to be the winner."
Prior to the victory of Fallen Angel in the Matron Stakes, Karl Burke was also on the scoresheet in the CMG Group Stakes as Convergent gained compensation for his German Derby near-miss by romping to victory.
The Fascinating Rock colt was beaten a short head when fancied for Classic glory at Hamburg in July, but there was never any doubt this time around as the 3-1 chance travelled powerfully throughout in the hands of Clifford Lee before drawing clear in the home straight.
English raider Convergent (3-1) wins the Group Three CMG Group Stakes for Clifford Lee and Karl Burke, with the winner looking ready for the step up to Group One company #IrishChampionsWeekend pic.twitter.com/RgAZmvyiwb
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 13, 2025
"The horse is heavier and stronger than he was going to the German Derby. I think he's just maturing into a very good horse," said Burke.
"He always had the potential to put in a performance like that. I know it was a Group Three but I think it was a Group One performance.
"I know he's only won a length in the end but I don’t think he was doing a lot in front, and I don’t think Cliff even gave him a slap."
Diamond Necklace sparkled in the Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle Stakes, as she enhanced her reputation .
Aidan O'Brien’s daughter of St Mark’s Basilica – who cost €1.7m as a yearling – had impressed at the Curragh on debut and Christophe Soumillon was in no hurry as he rode the youngster with supreme confidence in this step up to Listed level.
Jack Channon’s Sukanya had headed Diamond Necklace’s stablemate Venosa entering the final furlong, but the 1-2 favourite was beginning to hit top gear under the Belgian rider.
It was Soumillon’s first victory since filling the role of Ballydoyle super sub for the injured Ryan Moore as Diamond Necklace cruised to a cosy two-and-a-quarter-length success, with Coral making the winner 14-1 for both the 1000 Guineas and Oaks next year.
"That was lovely, Christophe gave her a lovely ride," said O’Brien.
"She’s a lovely filly and she’s going to stay further. We’ll have a look at the Fillies’ Mile (at Newmarket) or the Prix Marcel Boussac (at ParisLongchamp) with her.
"There was a good pace on. We knew at the Curragh that she was a filly that was going to want every yard of seven furlongs.
"Christophe was very patient on her, it was an even gallop and I don’t think he even touched her.
"The Curragh was her first time away from home and she still won, usually if they do that they can often be a bit different.
"She’s a filly that cost a lot of money, with a great pedigree, and her work was always very right.
"She’s by St Mark’s Basilica and he didn’t win his Group race until the Dewhurst, he went through the whole year."
Soumillon and O’Brien soon enjoyed more success in the juvenile division when 1-2 favourite Benvenuto Cellini stepped up to Group Two level in style to enhance his trainer’s stellar record in the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes.
Having raced in the slipstream of the front-running Hardy Warrior in the early stages, the son of Frankel and Breeders’ Cup-winning Newspaperofrecord showed a deadly turn of foot in the home straight to gallop to a five-length victory.
The impressive Benvenuto Cellini (1-2F) stretches clear of his rivals in the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes for Christophe Soumillon and Aidan O'Brien pic.twitter.com/FpCMug0HgO
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 13, 2025
"He’s lovely and has a big, open stride," said O’Brien.
"He won his maiden well and looks like he’s going to be a lovely middle-distance horse.
"Dylan (Browne McMonagle on Hardy Warrior) took him along out in the middle of the track and Christophe had the choice of coming to the right or left rail and it was easier to go to the right rail."
O’Brien added: "I couldn’t be happier. He was always going to be a Derby trial horse and Christophe said he feels like French Derby horse.
"He can go again this year in the Futurity (at Doncaster) or one of the French races and then start in the Derby trials next year, I’d imagine.
"He’s a close, compact horse, but he’s a big horse. He’s a very good walker and a great galloper, he really opens up and levels out on the ground when you ask him to go. That’s usually a good sign."
