By Tom Frary
Second and ahead of his fellow Galileo-sired stablemates Yucatan and Capri in the G3 Ballysax S. over this course and distance last time Apr. 8, TDN Rising Star Douglas Macarthur produced a stirring front-running effort to confirm that form and provide Emmet McNamara with a career highlight and Aidan O'Brien with an 11th renewal. Impressive from the front on his second start in the mile maiden won in 2011 by Camelot (GB) here in July, the bay was the yard's pick for the G3 Golden Fleece S., or Champions Juvenile S. won by Australia (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). Coming off a break in that contest which was run over the same course and distance as his maiden on Irish Champions Day, he was 8-13 but could only manage only third under the same forcing tactics before finishing fifth when held up in Newmarket's G2 Royal Lodge S. a fortnight later. Ridden forward again when fourth in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud trying this trip for the first time in October, he was undone by another of that race's also-rans Rekindling (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) in the Ballysax and in his absence was able to become the fourth Derby trial winner to have followed home Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) at Saint-Cloud.
Shadowed by Capri as he set a stern pace throughout the early stages with Yucatan sat out the back, he refused to relinquish the lead as Capri threatened from the top of the straight and the only non-Ballydoyle protagonist Insayshable (Ire) (Rajj {Ire}) also loomed ominously. With that pair fought off, Douglas Macarthur showed an admirably determined attitude against the rail to pull out extra as Yucatan joined in on the outer to make a Ballydoyle and Galileo blanket. McNamara said of the winner, “They were three very nice horses and it was just nice to be on one of them. He stays all day and he shouldn't have any problems getting a mile and a half. Turning in, I thought I might be in a bit of trouble but staying won the day for him. I rode him plenty at home over the winter and know him well. He's a very uncomplicated horse and I don't see any reason why he wouldn't act around Epsom. He's a well-balanced horse and he can jump smart from the gates and get a position and travel. He's a typical Galileo–he gets his head down and really tries.”
Given that he is a full-brother to the stable's 2012 G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Was, Douglas Macarthur was always going to stretch some resources in the auction ring much as his other full-sister, the 5million gns purchase Al Naamah (Ire), had before him. His dam is a half to the formidable champion New Approach (Ire), winner of the Epsom Derby he also likely heads to now, and the G3 Matron S.-winning highweight Dazzling Park (Ire) (Warning {GB}) who was also second in the G1 Irish Champion S. and third in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas. She in turn is the second dam of the G1 Phoenix S.-winning sire Alfred Nobel (Ire), another high-profile descendant of the legendary dual champion Park Express. Alluring Park also has a 2-year-old full-sister to the winner to come named Park Bloom (Ire).
Sunday, Leopardstown, Ireland
DERRINSTOWN STUD DERBY TRIAL S.-G3, €100,000, LEO, 5-7, 3yo, 10fT, 2:09.50, g/f.
1–#@DOUGLAS MACARTHUR (IRE), 129, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Alluring Park (Ire) (MSP-Ire), by Green Desert
2nd Dam: Park Express (Ire), by Ahonoora (GB)
3rd Dam: Matcher, by Match II
(1,250,000gns Ylg '15 TATOCT). O-Markus Jooste, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Lodge Park Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Emmet McNamara. €59,000. Lifetime Record: 7-2-1-1, $117,430. *Full to Was (Ire), G1SW-Eng & G1SP-Ire, $496,294; and Al Naamah (Ire), MGSP-Fr; and 1/2 to Janood (Ire) (Medicean {GB}), SW-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Yucatan (Ire), 129, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Six Perfections (Fr), by Celtic Swing (GB). O-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Niarchos Family (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €20,000.
3–Capri (Ire), 129, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Dialafara (Fr), by Anabaa. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Lynch Bages Ltd & Camas Park Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €10,000.
Margins: HD, NO, 1 3/4. Odds: 7.00, 1.60, 2.25.
Also Ran: Insayshable (Ire), Dubai Sand (Ire). DNF: Naturalist (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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