Gleneagles Colt Brave In Group 2 Victory

Royal Dornoch (2c Gleneagles - Bridal Dance, by Danehill Dancer) set a new juvenile track record when taking Saturday’s Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt was stepping up to a mile for the first time, having won his maiden over seven furlongs and finished third over six furlongs in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes. Wayne Lordan rode the bay to chase the leader, asserting over two furlongs out, but was soon headed by hot-favourite Kameko. He showed tenacity to battle back and stayed on to reverse the placings by a neck on the line, as stablemate Iberia (Galileo) stayed on in third.

Royal Dornoch joins an illustrious honor roll that includes the likes of Frankel (Galileo) and Roaring Lion. He became a seventh winner of the race for O’Brien, who said after the race, “We were delighted with him, he’s a lovely horse. He was able to compete at a top level over six furlongs and when they can do that and do the same over a mile it’s very exciting. He’s like all of the Gleneagles, they have speed and they’re very tough, very genuine.”

Owned by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs John Magnier, Royal Dornoch was bred by Barronstown Stud who sold him to Amanda Skiffington for 240,000gns at Tattersalls as a yearling. A half-brother to the high-class race mare Hawksmoor, he becomes the third individual Stakes winner from the first crop by Gleneagles.