Four year-old Camelot stallion Luxembourg had a challenging year in 2022, but looks ready to soar to new heights this year winning the Group I Tattersalls Gold Cup (1m2 ½ f) at The Curragh on Sunday, while on the same program blueblood Deep Impact colt Drumroll claimed his first stakes win.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien, Luxembourg was an undefeated Group I winner at two and was expected to be the classic star of 2022, but after a third in the Group I Newmarket 2000 Guineas to Coreobus, his campaign went awry with niggling problems keeping him away from the track.
He did win the Group I Irish Champion Stakes before finishing unplaced in the Arc, but all in all it was a disappointing year for a horse that promised so much.
With Ryan Moore on board, Luxembourg put all of that behind him to show his true colours on Sunday beating Group I winner Bay Bridge by half a length in an epic battle.
Luxembourg is now listed at 3-1 for the Group I Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot with other Group I target races to follow including the King George, the Irish Champion Stakes and a possible second crack at the Arc.
"He went to the Irish Champion Stakes after a terrible preparation. Then he went to the Arc in very bad ground after a very hard preparation for the Champion Stakes, so it was always possible he wouldn't be as good, but the lads had the patience to leave him alone,” said Aidan O’Brien reflecting on last year’s troubled campaign.
"He's a very serious horse, he has done very well from three to four and is the perfect athlete."
Luxembourg was bought by MV Magnier for 150,000 guineas at the Tattersalls October Book 1 Yearling Sale and was bred by Ben Sangster. A full-brother to Luxembourg sold the following year to MV Magnier for €1.2million at the Goffs Orby Sale and racing as Hiawatha he was a winner last year at two and was Group III placed.
Luxembourg is also a half-brother to Group II winner Leo de Fury and Group III placed Sense of Style being the best of four winners from Danehill Dancer mare Attire, a sister to Group III winner Forgotten Voice and half-sister to stakes-winner Australie.
The Group III Gallinule Stakes (1m2f) was won by Deep Impact colt Drumroll in the stewards room with first past the post being Churchill gelding Teutates, who was relegated to second following interference.
The Aidan O’Brien trained Drumroll was having his third start having won his debut in March before finishing second to subsequent Group I Irish 2000 Guineas winner Paddington in the Listed Tetrarch Stakes.
The Group I Irish Derby was mentioned as a likely next assignment for Drumroll, who is a full brother to dual Group I winner and promising young sire Saxon Warrior from Group I winning Galileo mare Maybe.
