Australia Colt Impresses With Group 2 Victory
Leo De Fury (4c Australia - Attire, by Danehill Dancer) made an impressive return to the track when racing three lengths clear in the Group 2 Coolmore Magna Grecia Irish EBF Mooresbridge Stakes on Friday.
Unraced at two, the Jessica Harrington-trained entire won his first two starts last season and went on to finish a close second to Buckhurst (Australia) in the Group 3 Royal Whip Stakes. Racing over the same course and distance of ten furlongs on Friday, he raced towards the back of the field under Shane Foley and began to make good headway from three furlongs out. Leading with a furlong and a half left to race, he stayed on strongly to win by three lengths, as Fleeting (Zoffany) ran on for second and Numerian (Holy Roman Emperor) chased him home in third.
Speaking after the race, delighted assistant trainer Kate Harrington said, “Leo De Fury is really exciting. We thought a lot of him last year and the ground was a bit soft for him at Longchamp but he's wintered really well and I can't believe he's won so easy there. He was so far back but the way he got there he looks like a proper horse. I'd say the Tattersalls Gold Cup will be his next aim.”
Owned by Zhang Yuesheng and bred by BV Sangster, Leo De Fury comes from the first crop of Australia, for whom he becomes a seventh individual Group winner.
Leo De Fury was completing a double on the Curragh card for his sire, following Galileo Chrome (3c Australia - Curious Mind, by Dansili) capturing the ten furlong maiden earlier in the day.
Making his second start, the Joseph O’Brien-trained colt was ridden to chase the leaders by Shane Crosse and despite becoming short of room in the straight, improved to deliver a challenge in the final furlong. Driven out, he prevailed in a thrilling finish to beat longtime leader King Of The Throne by a head, with the same distance back to Timourid (Gleneagles) in third.
A significant step up in class may now be in store for the winner, according to O’Brien, who later said, “Galileo Chrome had a lovely run last year and was working well. He has an Irish Derby entry. It will be a big ask for him to step straight into that company but I'm sure it will be considered.”
Owned and bred by Mohamed Ali Meddeb, Galileo Chrome is out of a winning half-sister to Listed winner and St Leger third Michealangelo (Galileo).