Delacrois stakes his Derby claim in the Ballysax Delacroix is firmly on course for the Derby after landing the odds in decisive fashion on his seasonal debut in the P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown. Aidan O’Brien has won this Group 3 event many times including with Epsom heroes Galileo and High Chaparral, and the son of Dubawi is now a 10/1 (from 16/1) chance for the Derby. Ryan Moore elected to make the running on the 4/7 favourite and he took control from over a furlong to score by two and a quarter lengths. Lambourn came home well to complete a 1-2 for the Ballydoyle trainer with Tiberius Thunder a further length and a quarter away in third. O’Brien said, “You’d have to be very happy. He was always babyish and he still 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. He’ll improve plenty fitness wise. “He quickened very well in the straight and is not a horse that will over race.”
