Endorsement Boosts Derby Candidates With Leopardstown Romp

Coolmore and Westerberg's Endorsement (Wootton Bassett) attempted to make all and hit the board behind James J Braddock (Zarak) and Pierre Bonnard (Camelot) in last month's G3 Derby Trial at Leopardstown and boosted the hopes of those G1 Derby candidates with a seven-length romp in Thursday's Listed King George V Cup back at the Foxrock venue.

“His form is solid, it was nice to see him running well and Ryan [Moore] was very happy with him,” commented Aidan O'Brien. “We didn't know how far he'd stay because a mile-and-a-quarter is as far as he's gone. He could be a [G2 Queen's] Vase horse or he could be a [G2] King Edward [VII] horse. We were thinking he might be a Vase horse, so it's possible he could be.”

Clear on the front end throughout, the 1-4 pick straightened for home with a commanding advantage and was urged further clear in the straight to easily rout stablemate Amadeus Mozart (Wootton Bassett) by daylight.

The Joseph O'Brien-trained duo Yousaynothingatall (Australia) and So Must I (Sottsass) came home at intervals, 4 1/4 lengths and 11 lengths back in third and fourth.

 

IN A ROMP! 💜🤍

Group 1-entered Endorsement is miles too good in the King George V Cup. pic.twitter.com/VbhkSDOgqv

— Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) June 4, 2026

 

 

Endorsement, who becomes the 87th stakes winner for his sire, is the first of four foals foal bred from an unraced Galileo full-sister to seven black-type performers headed by G1 Criterium International-winning sire Johannes Vermeer, G2 Kilboy Estate Stakes victrix Elizabeth Browning and the Group 1-placed duo Wembley and Covent Garden.

The winner, whose third dam is G2 Ribblesdale winner Miletrian (Marju), is a full-brother to the one-for-one two-year-old colt Sergei Diaghilev and a weanling colt. He is also kin to a yearling filly by Little Big Bear.

 

Thursday, Leopardstown, Ireland
KING GEORGE V CUP-Listed, €50,000, Leopardstown, 6-4, 3yo, 12fT, 2:42.50, sf.
1–ENDORSEMENT (IRE), 131, c, 3, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
                1st Dam: Embellish (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Inca Princess (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)
                3rd Dam: Miletrian (Ire), by Marju (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-Embellish Syndicate; T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €30,000. Lifetime Record: MGSP-Ire & GSP-Eng, 7-2-3-1, $95,867.
2–Amadeus Mozart (Ire), 131, c, 3, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Pendant (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier; B-Coolmore; T-Aidan O'Brien. €10,000.
3–Yousaynothingatall (Ire), 126, f, 3, Australia (GB)–Dont Ask Me At All (Ire), by No Nay Never. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Shane R Stafford & Annus Mirabilis Syndicate; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd; T-Joseph O'Brien. €5,000.
Margins: 7, 4 1/4, 11. Odds: 0.25, 6.00, 7.50.
Also Ran: So Must I (Ire). Scratched: Emmeleia (Ire).