Tepin's Delacroix An Important Prospect for Coolmore

Regally-bred colt Delacroix (IRE) added an all-important first group 1 to his record when he produced a brave performance to win the Coral-Eclipse (G1) at Sandown July 6. The colt's triumph provided the Coolmore team with a vital victory. Not only did he earn his group 1 stripes in a stallion-making race, but as a son of Dubawi (IRE) out of the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) heroine Tepin, Delacroix is a complete outcross for the regal Coolmore broodmare band which is dominated by brilliant daughters of Galileo. READ: Tepin's Last Foal Delacroix Lands Coral-Eclipse Stakes Speaking to ITV Racing in the immediate aftermath of the race, winning trainer Aidan O'Brien was quick to acknowledge just how pivotal Delacroix's success could be to the future of Coolmore's bloodstock empire. "I can't tell you how important he is. The lads have been looking for a Dubawi all their life and he's out of a champion. He's a beautiful big horse with power, strength, and everything you want. I am delighted for the lads that he has won," said O'Brien, who was registering a remarkable ninth win in the race. Although his year-older Galileo half-sister Grateful (IRE) won the Prix de Royallieu (G1) over 1 3/4 miles last year, Delacroix failed to stay the 1 1/2-mile Derby (G1) trip at Epsom last time out, and Ryan Moore believes the colt has the speed to drop down in distance. "I think 10 furlongs is fine but if anything he would probably run shorter," commented the jockey who was winning the race for the third year in a row and the fifth time in his career. "We have always held him in high regard right from his 2-year-old days. He is out of a great racemare and by Dubawi and only time will tell how much they can step it up when they race." Bred by the Tepin syndicate, Delacroix is the third Eclipse winner sired by Darley's outstanding stallion Dubawi following on from Al Kazeem (2013) and Ghaiyyath (2020), but is his first 3-year-old winner of the race. However, the 23-year-old's 62nd individual group/grade 1 winner could be the most important of them all as far as Coolmore are concerned. Delacroix is the second top-level winner foaled by Tepin who sadly died two years ago at the age of 11. She was bought by MV Magnier for $8 million at Fasig-Tipton's November Sale in 2017 in foal to Curlin. The two-time Eclipse Award winner was the second most expensive breeding prospect on the night, with Mandy Pope going to $9.5 million for Songbird. The daughter of Bernstein won six grade 1 races in three different countries, including the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T), Just a Game Stakes (G1T), Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T), First Lady Stakes (G1T), and Woodbine Mile (G1T). She is a half-sister to triple grade 2 winner Vyjack and they are out of the unraced Stravinsky mare Life Happens.