Jan Brueghel maintained his unbeaten record when wearing down stablemate Illinois by a neck to provide Aidan O'Brien with a 1-2 finish and an eighth win in the Sept. 14 St Leger Stakes (G1) at Doncaster Racecourse.
Keen early on, jockey Sean Levey wrestled Jan Brueghel back into the heart of the pack, going down the back, before he and Wayne Lordan on Illinois committed inside the three-furlong marker.
Levey spent much of his early career with O'Brien at Ballydoyle, where his late father had worked.
"He'd be very proud, no doubt," said Levey, who was adding a second British classic to his 2018 One Thousand Guineas (G1) win aboard Billesdon Brook. "The first thing he'd definitely say is thank you to Aidan, Mr. Magnier, Mrs. Magnier, the whole team, Mr. Van Opel, and everyone concerned. To finally get a nice race for them is a great thing for me.
"We knew the track would suit and the trip would suit. I think he's shown he's successful going that extra distance and I think he's a Gold Cup horse in the making. Don't be surprised if he steps up a bit next year."
Deira Mile just edged out Sunway in the fight to be third, but after the stewards reviewed contact between the two inside the final furlong, those placings were reversed.
O'Brien said after the race from Leopardstown: "They are two very good horses, and clearly there's nothing between them. Sean gave the winner a very good ride and neither stopped all the way down the straight. We knew the winner had improved a lot since Goodwood and he's a classy horse.
"It's great for Sean, he started off with us and I'm so delighted for him. Either of them could go to Melbourne, they're two classy stayers, but Illinois would have no problem coming back to a mile and a half."
The prestigious two-mile Melbourne Cup (G1) is Nov. 4. It is often called "the race that stops a nation" due to its massive popularity in Australia.
Before the St Leger, Jan Brueghel broke his maiden in May at The Curragh before cruising to victories in the International Stakes (G3) at The Curragh and the Gordon Stakes (G3) at Goodwood.
Jan Brueghel, a 3-year-old son of Galileo, is a full sibling to 2019 Irish Derby (G1) victor Sovereign. He is out of the group 2-placed Danehill Dancer mare Devoted To You.
Colossal performance! Jan Brueghel battles to glory in the @Betfred St Leger Stakes! 🔥
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 14, 2024
An eighth winner of the race for Aidan O’Brien… 🐐 pic.twitter.com/RWm3Eyv1ZB
