The Grey Gatsby Shocks Australia in Ireland
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Last entering the stretch, The Grey Gatsby unleashed a fierce rally and stunned dual Derby winner Australia in a last-gasp victory in the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (Ire-I) Sept. 13 at Leopardstown.
The Grey Gatsby scored by a neck, turning the tables on the overwhelming 3-10 favorite, winner of the Epsom (Eng-I) and Irish (Ire-I) Derbys. Australia defeated The Grey Gatsby by two lengths last time out in a runner-up finish the Juddmonte International (Eng-I) Aug. 20 at York.
Australia relaxed at the back of the field along with The Grey Gatsby before Joseph O'Brien brought him widest of all into the stretch to rally while The Grey Gatsby saved ground on the rail. Uncoiling powerful strides, Australia overtook dueling front-runners Alkasser and Kingfisher and opened a two-length lead.
When Ryan Moore asked The Grey Gatsby to run entering the stretch, the colt responded with an explosive move and reeled the tiring Australia with every stride. The two were on even terms as the finish line approached, but The Grey Gatsby had more energy and thrust out his neck for the win at odds of 7-1.
Winless in two starts for owner Frank Gillespie and trainer Kevin Ryan since capturing the Prix du Jockey Club (Fr-I, French Derby) June 1 at Chantilly, the Grey Gatsby took his record to 4-4-0 from 11 starts with Saturday's win.
The Grey Gatsby, who was timed in 2:03.18 for 1 1/4 miles on good turf, is a son of Mastercraftsman, whose son Kingston Hill won the Ladbrokes St. Leger earlier in the day at Doncaster. Both colts are from the first crop of their sire, who stands at Coolmore Stud in Ireland.
Trading Leather, the 2013 Irish Derby winner, finished third.
The Grey Gatsby earned a fees-paid, automatic starting berth in the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park, a 1 1/2-mile race for which Australia was under consideration prior to the Irish Champion Stakes.
Bred in Ireland by Malcolm Parrish, The Grey Gatsby is one of two winners out of the Entrepreneur mare Marie Vison, who was stakes-placed in France. Second dam Metisse is a half sister to French group I winners Septieme Ciel and Macoumba and to United States grade III winner Maxigroom.
Earlier on the card, Flaxman Stables' Fiesolana earned an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (gr. IT) when she captured the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes (Ire-I).
A 5-year-old Aussie Rules mare, Fiesolana was near the back of the field nearing the final furlong. She gamely split horses for Billy Lee to seize the lead from 7-4 favorite Rizeena in the final 50 yards and tallied by a half-length at 5-1 odds.
Tobann, off at 40-1 odds, checked in third
Fiesolana scored her first win from five starts this year and came in off a third-place finish against males in the Prix Maurice de Gheest (Fr-I) Aug. 10 at Deauville. A multiple group winner last year for Curragh trainer Willie McCreery, she won for the first time at the group level while taking her career line to 9-3-2 in 21 starts.
Final time for one mile was 1:38.16.
Flaxman Stables went to 960,000 guineas ($1,648,584 in United States funds) to buy Fiesolana, a half sister to graded/group winner Innit, at the 2013 Tattersalls December mare sale from consignor Ballyphilip Stables. She is out of the Kris S. mare Tidal Reach.