“Dylan Thomas is the best I’ve ever ridden” - Kieren Fallon
9th September 2007
There have been many red-letter days in the amazing career of the late Danehill but there have been few occasions to match Leopardstown on Saturday.
Not only did the brilliant Dylan Thomas (4c Danehill-Lagrion, by Diesis) lead home a 1-2 for his sire in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes but the day’s other G1 went to a daughter of Danehill in Echelon (5m Danehill-Exclusive, by Polar Falcon), who captured the G1 Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes.
Dylan Thomas was winning an amazing fifth G1, and became the first dual winner of the G1 Irish Champion Stakes, when coming with a well-timed run under Kieren Fallon to beat stablemate Duke Of Marmalade (3c Danehill-Love Me True, by Kingmambo) by a length and a half.
It was another G1 1-2-3 for trainer Aidan O’Brien and for good measure third place was taken by a grandson of Danehill in Red Rock Canyon (3c Rock Of Gibraltar-Imagine, by Sadler’s Wells). Amazingly the first five horses home were all by Coolmore sires with Galileo’s son Red Rocks in fourth and Maraahel, by Alzao, in fifth.
"I'd have to say Dylan Thomas is the best I've ridden," said Fallon. "He is going from strength to strength. He had his ground today and he showed just how good he is. He pricked his ears when he went to the front and I think the race will have done his confidence good. He is a very high class horse whether it’s a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half."
O’Brien reported that Dylan Thomas could now head for the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and was also delighted with the run of three-year-old Duke Of Marmalade, who has been in the first four in G1 company on every start ths year.
"Duke Of Marmalade ran a smashing race and we think he is a horse who will stay a bit further. He could be a horse for one of the races on Breeders' Cup weekend although there is also the G1 Champion Stakes at Newmarket to consider," said O’Brien.
Cheveley Park Stud’s home-bred Echelon (5m Danehill-Exclusive, by Polar Falcon) was another smart G1 winner when beating the multiple G1 scorer Red Evie to take the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Stakes over a mile at Leopardstown.
Ryan Moore took the lead a furlong from home and Sir Michael Stoute’s charge ran out a decent length and a half winner.
"After she won so well at Goodwood and came out of that race so well we decided to supplement her for this," said Stoute "She's tough and she's now won six Group races and she's getting better all the time."