Majestic Soldier has Epsom Coronation
7th June 2008
Galileo’s son Soldier Of Fortune (4c Galileo-Affianced, by Erins Isle) made a brilliant seasonal comeback at Epsom on Friday when winning the G1 Juddmonte Coronation Cup in scintillating style.
Johnny Murtagh brought last season’s G1 Irish Derby hero to the front with a well-timed run to score by three-quarters of a length from Youmzain with the front-running Macarthur (4c Montjeu-Out West, by Gone West) finishing third.
The winner was quoted as low as 2/1 for the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and is also favourite for the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe later in the season.
"Soldier Of Fortune’s a very natural horse," said his trainer Aidan O’Brien. "We are delighted with the progress he has made since three. He did get tired but he’s an exceptional horse. When we go home on Monday everything will be discussed as to the next race he goes for. All races from a mile and a quarter to a mile and a half are open to him.
"It’s great for his first run of the year and I’d say I was a bit concerned beforehand but Johnny was extra cool."
Murtagh added:"It went perfect for me with two horses making the running. This boy quickened up and just got a bit tired in the last 100 yards. I think he’s a better horse than last year.
"He has strengthened up and is going to be a serious horse this season. We thought he could win the Arc last year but he got interfered with although he probably wouldn’t have won. When I rode him in work the other morning I thought he would run very well although whatever he did today I thought he would improve on."
Owner John Magnier added: "I think for his first run of the year we would have to be happy with that. By looking at him, you can see a lot of physical improvement from three to four but Aidan felt that like his other horses and most people’s horses that he would improve for the run, so that was the negative before the race.
"We think a lot of the horse and after he ran in the Arc last year we thought he might be winning a similar race this season. This is a horse that everybody thought would benefit from being left in training."
Soldier Of Fortune was bred by one of Galileo’s biggest supporters, trainer Jim Bolger, who saddles champion two-year-old New Approach (3c Galileo-Park Express, by Ahonoora) in Saturday’s G1 Vodafone Derby.