HORSERACING – DELACROIX swept to glory yesterday in winning the Group One Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown Racecourse in Ireland.
The 2025 running of the Bahrain-sponsored event lived up to expectations as three-year-old colt Delacroix, trained by Aidan O’Brien, showed his class across 10 furlongs for owners Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier, and Michael Tabor.
Billed as the horse to beat in a high-quality field, jockey Christophe Soumillon rode Delacroix to prominence early, and despite losing ground, was in touch with the leaders seven furlongs out.
Delacroix then powered to the lead with two furlongs to go, and kept on well riding against the near rail en route to the finish for the famous victory.
Delacroix triumphed with a three-fourth length’s gap from runner-up Anmaat, racing for owners Shadwell Estate Company Ltd, trainer Owen Burrows, and jockey Chris Hayes; while finishing third was Royal Champion, competing for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, KR Burke, and Clifford Lee.
With the result, O’Brien extended his standing as the race’s most successful trainer after claiming his 13th win in its history.
The prestigious Group One event was held yesterday amidst the strong relations between Bahrain’s Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) and Leopardstown Racecourse. Its staging reflects the vision and objectives of the REHC High Committee, chaired by Prime Minister’s Court Minister Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
It was part of this year’s edition of the Dublin to Bahrain Race Series, and it aims to highlight the significant development witnessed by the horseracing sector in the kingdom while enhancing its presence on the international sports map.
Bahrain Economic Development Board advisor Iain Lindsay and REHC CEO Yusuf Buheji were on hand yesterday at Leopardstown to crown the winners. They presented the cup to Delacroix’s connections, including O’Brien and Soumillon.
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