Coolmore Banks On Delacroix At Epsom

Trainer O'Brien, however, does not rule out The Lion In Winter in his bid for 11th Derby

- Michael Lee

Top jockey Ryan Moore took a long time to pick his Epsom Derby ride, but the "winning form is good form" adage must have tipped the scales towards Delacroix.

Coolmore's champion rider is given first refusal at the behemoth operation.

When The Lion In Winter won convincingly as a two-year-old in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes (1,400m) at York on Aug 21, 2024, Moore thought he had his conveyance towards a fifth Derby win.

But the Sea Of Stars colt was a beaten short-priced favourite at his racing comeback in the Group 2 Dante Stakes (2,112m) at the same York track on May 15.

Round the same time, another rising star who had been waiting in the wings for the Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle team won two races in a row in Ireland - Delacroix.

Moore was aboard the Dubawi colt at the first, in the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes (2,000m) in Leopardstown, Ireland on May 11 while it was Wayne Lordan in the driving seat at his impressive Derby Trial win over the same course and distance six weeks later.