The flat racing season has kicked off in Europe with three quality races for new season three year-olds at Leopardstown overnight producing a quinella for Wootton Bassett (GB), a blue-blood Kingman filly for Juddmonte and two of the three winners were trained by Aidan O’Brien for the Coolmore partners.
The Group III Red Rocks Stakes (7f) had a short priced favourite in Wootton Bassett colt Henri Matisse, who was lining up for his first start since winning the Group I Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar in November. Ridden by Ryan Moore, he travelled midfield and took a while to switch on, but was doing his best work at the finish to win by half a length over another Wootton Bassett colt in Comanche Brave.
"He wants to get there late and when he gets there, he waits," said O'Brien.
"He did well because it was a good gallop and he's going to improve fitness wise. You would have to be happy with him. He's obviously a very smart horse and does quicken very well. He'll improve plenty."
Bred by the Immortal Verse Syndicate and retained to race by the Coolmore partners, Henri Matisse is a half-brother to Champion European 2YO Filly and dual Group I winner Tenebrism as well as Group II winner Statuette being the third stakes-winner among five winners from dual Group I winning Pivotal mare Immortal Verse.
It’s an elite Black Type packed family that features champion sire Last Tycoon.
Henri Matisse was one of an impressive 13 2YO stakes-winners last year for Wootton Bassett and is the first of them to return at three and win in stakes company again.
The Group III Priory Belle Stakes (7f) also had a short priced favourite from the Aidan O’Brien stable in well seasoned Frankel filly Exactly, but she wasn’t up to the task with untapped Kingman filly Swelter winning with authority at just her second start following a maiden win in July last year.
Trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Chris Hayes, Swelter is destined for Group I races this year.
“I thought seven might be a little sharp for Swelter, it's probably the only time she'll be running over the trip. I see her as a 1m2f filly. She's a big filly and we gave her time to develop after her maiden win. She'll have learnt plenty from that, she goes for the Irish 1,000 Guineas,” said Weld.
A homebred for Juddmonte, Swelter is the 92nd stakes-winner for Kingman and is the best of three winners from Group III winner Hot Snap, a half-sister to Champion Mare and six time Group I winner Midday, Group III winner Sun Maiden and stakes-winner Midsummer Sun.
The Group III Ballysax Stakes (1m2f) was won by the Aidan O’Brien trained Dubawi colt Delacroix, who was a short priced favourite having been a Group III winner last season and second in the Group I Doncaster Futurity. He strode clear for Ryan Moore to win by a couple of lengths.
“You'd have to be very happy. Delacroix is babyish but he is growing up. I think he'll come back here for the Derby Trial if everything is well, and racing will only help him. We always thought he would stay well and he's a fine big, powerful horse,” said Aidan O’Brien.
Delacroix was bred by the Tepin syndicate and retained to race by the Coolmore partners. He is a half-brother to last year’s Group I winner Grateful and is the second stakes-winner from Champion US Turf Mare and six time Group I winner Tepin, who was bought by MV Magnier for US$8million at the 2017 Fasig Tipton November Sale.
