Group 3 Double For Ballydoyle And Galileo

Delphi (3c Galileo - Bye Bye Birdie, by Oasis Dream) made all to justify favoritism in Friday’s Irish St Leger Trial, providing Aidan O’Brien with a seventh straight success in the Group 3 contest.

The son of Galileo was unbeaten on all three starts so far this season, most recently winning the Listed Nijinsky Stakes impressively over a mile and a half. Stepping up to a mile and six furlongs at the Curragh, the bay was ridden from two furlongs out and dug deep to deny Master Of Reality by a short head.

Speaking after the race, winning jockey Seamie Heffernan said, “Delphi doesn't know when he's beaten. Very few horses will give you one hundred per cent but he feels like he's giving you that. You don't have to be the best if you give the most, and he's one of the most genuine that I will ever ride.”

The Coolmore homebred completed the first leg of a Group 3 double for jockey, owners, breeder, trainer and sire Galileo, with Armory (3c Galileo - After, by Danehill Dancer) capturing the very next race on the card, the Royal Whip Stakes.

He, too, was sent off favourite, and was positioned towards the back of the field by Heffernan. Making headway from two furlongs out, he was forced to switch left inside the final furlong and raced between horses to lead close home. The winning margin was a neck, with longtime leader Numerian (Holy Roman Emperor) keeping on well for second.

Heffernan was once again full of praise for the winner, later commenting, “Armory has a bit of class. He was the best horse in the race and he got me out of trouble.”

Friday marked a third Group win for Armory, who was also placed at Group 1 level on three occasions last season and began 2020 with two fourth placings in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Tattersalls Gold Cup.