Jan Brueghel denies stablemate Illinois in thrilling St Leger battle for O’Brien
Three years and two months after his death in July 2021, Galileo’s name still runs through the turf’s roll of honour like a watermark and the outstanding stallion of the past two decades registered a 21st – and possibly final – success in a British Classic as two Aidan O’Brien-trained colts from his final full crop went head-to-head through the final furlong in a memorable finish to the St Leger.
It was Jan Brueghel, still unbeaten after four starts, who edged in front by a neck at the line, justifying late support that had seen him backed down to 11-4 joint-favourite with Illinois at the off. Both horses, though, showed the famous grit and determination that have defined so many of Galileo’s champions for 20 years.
Related: The Frenchman hoping Sunway can point to a bright future in St Leger
The first Classic of the season, the 2,000 Guineas, had been in the form book for nearly a month when Jan Brueghel made his racecourse debut at the Curragh in late May, and while he won by eight lengths there, all three of his subsequent victories have been achieved by a neck.
It is the profile of a horse that is learning and progressing by the race, and Sean Levey, his jockey, agreed. “He’s only a young thing,” the 36‑year‑old said. “He ran in snatches a little bit down the back, but I got what I needed from him. I always knew I would head him [Illinois] when I needed to.”
Jan Brueghel’s future may lie in cup races next year, not least if his stable companion Kyprios, who is odds-on for the Irish St Leger at the Curragh on Sunday, retires to stud at the end of the season.
Saturday’s Classic alone, meanwhile, in which O’Brien’s three runners finished first, second and fifth, added another £601,000 to the trainer’s prize money total for 2024, taking him past £7m and ever closer to John Gosden’s record haul of £8.52m in 2018.
Windsor 1.35 Harry’s Halo 2.07 Aviation Time 2.37 Noisy Jazz 3.12 Mighty Bandit 3.42 Bravo Zulu (nb) 4.12 Oriental Spirit 4.45 Valadero 5.15 Bama Lama
Thirsk 1.45 Susiesparkle 2.15 Wondrous Ways 2.50 Moostar 3.20 Local Lad 3.50 Agnes Grey 4.20 Amayretto 4.50 Style Of Life 5.20 Sparkling Red (nap)
Worcester 1.55 Isabella Bee 2.25 Chance A Tune 3.00 Snitterfield 3.30 Handlethekettle 4.00 Trust House 4.30 Jo’s Rainbow 5.00 Planet Legend
Kempton 4.55 Poke The Bear 5.30 Wild Angel 6.00 Monsieur Patat 6.30 Mahato 7.00 Beyond Words 7.30 Al Ameed 8.00 Teorie 8.30 Darkzideofthemoon
But while Keir Starmer was in attendance at Town Moor with his wife, Victoria, who is a keen racegoer, the main man on the Flat this season was at Leopardstown, where his four-year-old Auguste Rodin came up a neck short behind William Haggas’s Economics in the Irish Champion Stakes.
Auguste Rodin appeared to briefly head Economics after quickening alongside just after the furlong pole, and it took a brave second effort by Haggas’s lightly raced three-year-old, who was sent off favourite at 7-4, to ensure that his Group One debut was a winning one.
“It didn’t look very nice, but he got the job done,” Haggas said. “I loved his head carriage in the last furlong, he really put his head down.
Bath 1.57 Galactic Glow 2.32 Bracklesham Bay 3.07 Trafalger 3.40 Masterdream 4.20 Treacherous 4.55 Wedgewood 5.30 Vellner
Doncaster 2.05 Good Earth 2.40 Thunder Blue 3.15 Fair Angellica (nb) 3.45 Ten Commitments 4.15 King’s Lynn 4.50 Bowood 5.25 Aramram
Musselburgh 2.10 Oceanic Wonder 2.45 All About Neve 3.22 Aye Up Lass 3.55 Dain Ma Nut In 4.30 Spring Is Sprung (nap) 5.05 Laudable 5.35 Space Ninja
“I’m really pleased with him and he’s coming along nicely. As long as we don’t overdo him this year, he’s got a big future. Hopefully we will see him again and we’ve always planned to go for the Champion Stakes at Ascot [in mid-October], so we will see.”
Economics is now top-priced at 7-4 favourite for the Champion Stakes, with another three-year-old, Francis Graffard’s Calandagan, next in the list at 3-1, and Haggas’s difficult decision to bypass the Derby in June after his colt had posted an impressive success in the Dante Stakes at York looks smarter with every fresh success.
“He was everything I was dreaming of and more,” Tom Marquand, the winner’s jockey, said. “I had moments when I was worried, but he always felt like he was there for it and Auguste Rodin showed up every bit as good as we were expecting.
“The big calls that were made earlier in the season that were probably so tough to do, they have been justified now. He’s not only a good horse, but a warrior as well and not many horses do both.
“He remains so, so exciting and I think next year will really be his year. I’m just thrilled to be a part of him so far and hopefully for what is to come.”
