Gosden's Lion Roars At The Curragh

3 minute read

The extended rivalry between top 3YO colts Roaring Lion and Saxon Warrior went to a new level when they fought out a thrilling finish to the Irish Champion Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.

Roaring Lion (Kitten's Joy x Vionnet by Street Sense) wore down Saxon Warrior (Deep Impact) in the closing stages to take a 3-2 lead in their on-going battles that began last season.

The John Gosden-trained Roaring Lion lost their first two encounters in the Racing Post Trophy and 2000 Guineas but has since had his measure in three subsequent G1 clashes.

Aidan O’Brien’s Saxon Warrior stretched Roaring Lion to the limit with Sheikh Fahad Al Thani’s grey colt driving late to score by a neck.

Roaring Lion has climbed to the top of the 3YO tree since he won the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket last September.

He won the G2 Dante Stakes at York before a game third in the G1 Epsom Derby when he had Saxon Warrior’s measure for the first time and has since reeled of a G1 treble in the Eclipse Stakes, Juddmonte International (Saxon Warrior second) and Irish Champion Stakes.

John Gosden’s son Thady, deputising for his father, said the Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 20 was on the agenda for Roaring Lion while O’Brien said Saxon Warrior could also be there on the same day in the shorter G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over the mile.

Roaring Lion’s record stands at seven wins and three placings from 11 starts for $US2,718,448 prizemoney.

Purchased at the 2016 Keeneland September Sale for $160,000, he was the first foal produced by the ill-fated G1-placed mare Vionnet (Street Sense), who died in Kentucky in February after developing laminitis and fracfuring a hock while carrying a More Than Ready filly.

Roaring Lion’s second dam Cambiocorsa (Avenue of Flags) was a multiple G3 winner. She has produced four stakes winners including G2 winners Schiaparelli (Ghostzapper) and Moulin de Mougin (Curlin).

Cambiocorsa is a sister to Breeders Cup Sprint winner California Flag.

Roaring Lion is a fine advertisement for his Kentucky-based sire Kitten’s Joy, being one of 12 G1 winners by the son of El Prado.

A former champion North American turf sire, Kitten's Joy moved from his long time Ramsey Farm to Hill 'n' Dale Farms this year.

His oher G1 stars include Breeders' Cup winners Bobby's Kitten, Oscar Performance and Stephanie's Kitten and UK and Dubai G1 winner Hawkbill.

Roaring Lion is destined to stand at Qatar Racing’s Tweenhills Stud in the UK.

Champion sire Galileo added another classic winner to his record when the Aidan O’Brien-trained Kew Gardens won the St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday.

It was the third British classic victory for the Ballydoyle stable this year after landing the 2000 Guineas with Saxon Warrior (Deep Impact) and 1000 Guineas with .

Kew Gardens, ridden by Ryan Moore, was too strong for the filly and favourite Lah Ti Dar (Dubawi) by an emphatic 2.25 lengths, adding this classic to his victories in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot.

Kew Gardens is out of the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Chelsea Rose (Desert King), also the dam of G3 winner and G1 placed Thawaany (Tamayuz).

Chelsea Rose has produced three more Galileo foals with colts in 2016 and 2018 and a filly in 2017.

French-bred Siyouni filly Laurens ended the winning run of Alpha Centauri with an upset win in the G1 Matron Stakes at the Curragh.

Reverting to a mile after a fading sixth in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks last month, the G1 Prix de Diane winner fought gamely to hold Alpha Centauri for ¾ length win.

It was a fourth G1 victory for Laurens (Siyouni x Recambe by Cape Cross) who responded when Alpha Centauri tok a false step inside the final furlong.

The Karl Burke-trained Laurens now boasts an impressive record that includes wins in the G2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster and the G1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket and placings in the G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Prix Saint-Alary.

Alpha Centauri, the 3-10 favourite, made her run on the inside but lugged left under pressure and stumbled 150 yards which effectively settled the result.

“That was some performance and probably the highlight of my career so far,” Burke said.

“After the Yorkshire Oaks we were adamant that she didn’t stay. We weren’t going to complicate things so she made the running and made use of her long stride, which is her biggest asset.

“She has a huge engine and a huge stride and I would be very surprised if she doesn’t want to go for the Sun Chariot at Newmarket now rather than the Prix de l’Opera.”

“If she does stay in training next year, she has a lot of options now over a mile and a mile and a quarter.”

Alpha Centauri’s trainer Jessie Harrington was concerned about the runner-up, who was found to be distressed on examination post-race.

Laurens is out of Recambe (Cape Cross), a half sister to Hong Kong Derby winner Salford Mill (Peintre Celebre).

Her family includes the G1 winner Kinnaird (Dr. Devious), dam of the G2 winner Berkshire and second dam of G1 performer Ivawood, G1 Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up Rayeni and G1 Prix de l’Opera heroine Ridasiyna.

Aidan O’Brien’s Irish Derby runner-up Rostropovich (Frankel x Tyranny by Machiavellian) appreciated a drop in class to win the G3 Enterprise Stakes at Leopardstown from his stablemate Giuseppe Garibaldi (Galileo).

Fastnet Rock filly I Can Fly bagged her first Group win in the G2 Boomerang Stakes at Leopardstown.

I Can Fly (Fastnet Rock x Madonna Dell'orto by Montjeu) became the 88th Group winner by Australia's former champion sire when she beat stablemate Kenya (Galileo) by a length and three quarters.