It's Roaring Lion Again In the Irish Champion

When you have the kind of acceleration possessed by Roaring Lion (Kitten's Joy), winning races like Leopardstown's G1 QIPCO Irish Champion S.–a “Win And You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf–come as naturally as a morning breeze. With arch-rival Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) again making him stretch in a thrilling finale to Saturday evening's showdown, Qatar Racing's grey could not afford to keep anything in reserve for Oisin Murphy. Giving generously as he had in Sandown's G1 Eclipse S. and G1 Juddmonte International S., it proved enough to fundamentally reverse what had initially looked to be a permanent role as underdog to the Ballydoyle colt. Swamping the 2000 Guineas hero in the dying strides, the 8-11 favourite had a neck to spare as he had in their Sandown encounter July 7. Sheikh Fahad Al Thani was basking in the afterglow. “It's very special to win our own race and it didn't disappoint in terms of quality,” he said. “They are two great three-year-olds who have been taking each other on since last year. He's trained by a master trainer in John Gosden and has been brought up slowly. He'll probably go for the Champion Stakes at Ascot next.”

Roaring Lion's climb to prominence began with a defeat of Nelson (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G2 Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket in September, a race for which, remarkably in hindsight, he was only second favourite. His first meeting with Saxon Warrior in the G1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster was much-discussed over the winter, with differing schools of thought as to who boasted the higher merit after Roaring Lion had given his rival a way back inside the final furlong. By the time the pair had completed the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket May 5, it seemed clear that the Irish runner had the edge but Roaring Lion was to make unexpected rapid progress once upped to this trip 12 days later. Scintillating in the G2 Dante S. at York, he ran out of steam late when third in the June 2 G1 Epsom Derby but had managed to head off Saxon Warrior for the first time in the process. Confirming the form in the Eclipse, he made the score 3-2 in the Juddmonte International with five lengths between them in that Aug. 22 feature.

With Saxon Warrior stripping fitter for that first start after sickness, this was always going to represent a different test and it was evident from the outset that Ryan Moore's mount had the spring back in his step as he tanked behind Deauville (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The pace was not strong, but Murphy stayed true to his horse's preferred way of going and settled him with just the G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Study of Man (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) behind early. Having to travel wide throughout and with two lengths to make up on Saxon Warrior turning for home, Roaring Lion was set alight after presenting him with the gift of first run and although it looked far from certain for more than 100 yards he was able to cut him down close home. “The race changed complexion about three times,” Murphy explained. “It was very tactical and John and I thought it might turn out that way. I just wanted to get into a nice rhythm, get him balanced and then see which was the better horse. I had to get him into top gear and he's come home really well. I don't have much experience around Leopardstown and I'm learning on the job, but I had the right horse. It means the world to me. It's one of my best days for sure and one I'll not forget for a long time. It's surreal.”

John Gosden's son Thady was on hand to deputise with his father on duty at Doncaster and he said, “He had to do it the hard way and come around the field, but he's got the job done. He and Oisin have gelled incredibly well and it's been an incredible day for Oisin as he only rode his first winner in Ireland earlier in the day. In terms of where he goes next, we will have to talk to the owners and also see what the ground is like at Ascot for the [Oct. 20] Champion Stakes. He's shown today how important good ground is for that turn of foot that he's got. We were sweating a little bit today, but the horse and Oisin have done it and everyone at home deserves a lot of credit for the job they have done.” O'Brien was taking much encouragement from Saxon Warrior's effort, but was ruling out another duel with the winner. “We're delighted with him–we felt he had come forward from York and he has,” he commented. “Win, lose or draw, we had a three-race program in mind, which was York, Leopardstown and then back to a mile at Ascot [for the Oct. 20 G1 Queen Elizabeth II S.]. He has a lot of speed and quickens up, so he'll be very comfortable going back to a mile and we'll look forward to that.”

Roaring Lion was the first foal produced by Vionnet (Street Sense), whose finest hour came when third in the GI Rodeo Drive S. Sadly, she passed away at Rood and Riddle in February after developing laminitis when six-months pregnant. Only one week away from foaling, she broke her hock in the Rood & Riddle clinic and her More then Ready filly was born but could not sustain life as her lungs were too weak. She is out of the GIII Las Cienegas H. and GIII Senator Ken Maddy H. winner Cambiocorsa (Avenue of Flags), whose four stakes winners included the GII Royal Heroine Mile S. winner Schiaparelli (Ghostzapper) and the GII John C. Mabee S. winner Moulin de Mougin (Curlin). Cambiocorsa is a full-sister to California Flag, who was successful in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and three times in the GIII Morvich H. Vionnet's 2-year-old colt Fran the Man (Medaglia d'Oro) was unsold at $265,000 as a Keeneland November foal, but the following year was bought by Spendthrift Farm for $550,000.

Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
QIPCO IRISH CHAMPION S.-G1, €1,250,000, Leopardstown, 9-15, 3yo/up, 10fT, 2:07.21, g/f.
1–ROARING LION, 127, c, 3, by Kitten's Joy
1st Dam: Vionnet (GISP-US, $175,140), by Street Sense
2nd Dam: Cambiocorsa, by Avenue of Flags
3rd Dam: Ultrafleet, by Afleet
($160,000 Ylg '16 KEESEP). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-Ran Jan Racing, Inc. (KY); T-John Gosden; J-Oisin Murphy. €712,500. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Eng, 11-7-1-2, $2,718,448. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”us-bred-ky-bred-keen-grad”][bullet ad=”taylor-made-tm-for-you”][bullet ad=”kbif-g1″]2–Saxon Warrior (Jpn), 127, c, 3, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Maybe (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Orpendale & Chelston & Wynatt (JPN); T-Aidan O'Brien. €250,000.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]3–Deauville (Ire), 133, h, 5, Galileo (Ire)–Walklikeanegyptian (Ire), by Danehill. O-Fitri Hay, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Mrs F H Hay (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €125,000.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]Margins: NK, 2 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.70, 2.50, 40.00.
Also Ran: Athena (Ire), Study of Man (Ire), Rhododendron (Ire), Verbal Dexterity (Ire). Scratched: Addeybb (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.