By Tom Frary
In an outstanding renewal of Doncaster's G1 St Leger on Saturday, it was the much-missed colossus Galileo (Ire) who had his inimitable stamp on proceedings with his sons Jan Brueghel (Ire) and Illinois (Ire) waging war in a clear demonstration of one of the most common characteristics of his breed. While the eventual winner Jan Brueghel had yet to go into the red zone in a career that only commenced in May, the son of Devoted To You (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) who had already provided a Classic winner in Sovereign (Ire) was able to draw on the innate steel handed down by his sire supreme and outlast his battle-hardened stablemate in a thrilling finale on Town Moor.
Free initially for Sean Levey with the pace set by the other Galileo in the works Grosvenor Square (Ire) not as exacting as was expected, the 11-4 joint-favourite was restrained to sit three lengths off the lead and soon settled into a more suitable rhythm for this extended 14-furlong stamina test. Delivered alongside the other marker-leader Illinois as they came to have it between them approaching the two-furlong pole, the G3 International Stakes and G3 Gordon Stakes-winning TDN Rising Star took until the last 100 yards to truly assert his superiority and prevail by a neck.
There was another 1 1/2 lengths and a nose back to Deira Mile (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) in third and fourth, but the stewards saw fit to reverse those placings and provide the latter with a second Classic placing. Levey, the former Ballydoyle apprentice who was winning a second British Classic, was impressed by the Westerberg colour-bearer who was providing Galileo with his 101st group 1 winner. “It was very straightforward,” he said after helping Aidan O'Brien to an eighth St Leger. “He was willing, but still babyish and did it well with a bit in reserve. He's a nice horse going forward and could be anything.”
“He was quite keen initially, but I got him settled and then he was completely off the bridle and started to race lazily,” he explained. “Ryan said when he gets to the front he might think he's done enough, as he's a baby and when he started to get into a competitive position, I always felt I was going to go by Illinois. I had great times at Ballydoyle and it's nice to come around full circle–nice to get the ride and nice to deliver.”
Earning his TDN Rising Star badge with his eight-length debut success over 10 furlongs at The Curragh on Irish Guineas weekend, Jan Brueghel gave more indication as to his raw material when overcoming notable greenness to get Trustyourinstinct (Ire) (Churchill {Ire})–who would go on to win the G3 Kilternan Stakes minutes after the Leger–late on in the G3 International Stakes over the same course and distance the following month. At Goodwood, he mastered Bellum Justum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) despite again doing most things wrong and had the time subsequently to build to this first major test.
O'Brien said at Leopardstown, “It was a great race and I'm delighted–the three of them ran great races. Jan Brueghel was very babyish the last day, but we thought he had come forward a lot. We knew it was going to be a big call to go and do it and he doesn't do much in front. Illinois also ran a great race and Sean Levey gave the winner a great ride.”
Christophe Soumillon said of Sunway, “He ran really well, but when we were fighting it out inside the last 250 yards he got a big bump from the horse on his outside, which meant we lost third place on the line. There's a nice race in him.”
Deira Mile's trainer Owen Burrows said of the demoted third, “With the blinkers on, I was conscious I didn't want him seeing loads of daylight, so Jason [Watson] dropped him in, but the way the race was run, it was an advantage to be closer to the pace. He travelled into it good, stayed the trip well, but they dictated the pace from the front. The owner is keen to have a crack at the Arc and why not, he likes a punt.”
Pedigree Notes
Jan Brueghel is at this stage a contrasting performer to the aforementioned dam Devoted To You's past star Galileo colt Sovereign, who dominated the G1 Irish Derby from the front in 2019. Her other significant performer by the sire is the G1 Irish St Leger third Dawn Rising (Ire), so stamina was always going to be the winner's strong suit. Runner-up in the G2 Debutante Stakes, Devoted To You is a half-sister to four stakes winners, most notably Humble Eight (Seattle Battle) who captured the GIII Honeybee Stakes.
The third dam is Morning Devotion (Affirmed), who was third in the Fillies' Mile when it held group 3 status and who produced another Irish Derby winner in the Oaks heroine Balanchine (Storm Bird) and Nureyev's group 2 winners Romanov and Red Slippers (Nureyev). The latter was responsible for the G1 Prix de Diane heroine West Wind (GB) (Machiavellian), while her many top-class descendants include the dual G1 Dubai World Cup hero Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) and Dubawi's ill-fated star Coroebus (Ire). Devoted To You's yearling filly by St Mark's Basilica (Fr) is catalogued in the upcoming Goffs Orby Book 1, while she also has a filly foal by Wootton Bassett (GB).
Colossal performance! Jan Brueghel battles to glory in the @Betfred St Leger Stakes! 🔥
An eighth winner of the race for Aidan O'Brien… 🐐 pic.twitter.com/RWm3Eyv1ZB
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 14, 2024
Saturday, Doncaster, Britain
BETFRED ST LEGER STAKES-G1, £743,000, Doncaster, 9-14, 3yo, 14f 115yT, 3:04.52, gd.
1–JAN BRUEGHEL (IRE), 129, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Devoted To You (Ire) (MGSP-Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Alleged Devotion, by Alleged
3rd Dam: Morning Devotion, by Affirmed
TDN Rising Star. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Sean Levey. £421,355. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, 4-4-0-0, $760,875. *Full to Sovereign (Ire), G1SW-Ire, G1SP-Eng, $1,173,919; and Dawn Rising (Ire), G1SP-Ire, GSP-Eng, $277,824. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Illinois (Ire), 129, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Danedrop (Ire), by Danehill. O-D Smith, Mrs J Magnier & M Tabor; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £159,745.
3–Sunway (Fr), 129, c, 3, Galiway (GB)–Kensea (Fr), by Kendargent (Fr). (€300,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Guy Pariente Holding & Qatar Racing Ltd; B-Guy Pariente Holding SPRL (FR); T-David Menuisier. £39,825.
Margins: (NK, 1HF, NO). Odds: 2.75, 2.75, 5.50.
Also Ran: Deira Mile (Ire), Grosvenor Square (Ire), Wild Waves (Ire), You Got To Me (GB).
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