History will decide where the 2024 Irish Champion Stakes (G1) might ultimately rank in the pantheon of group 1s with a regal roll of honor, but for now, we can relish an encounter as absorbing as any of those that have gone before.
When the gloves came off in the straight, it looked for a moment as though Economics , William Haggas’s runaway Dante Stakes (G2) winner, might get swamped as jockey Ryan Moore brought Auguste Rodin wide with an ominous challenge. Moore eked last year’s winner to the front inside the distance, and it’s not often he will be beaten from there.
Jockey Tom Marquand and Economics in effect had to win the race twice, but they met that challenge handsomely. Marquand kept asking and Economics kept answering, finally getting back up to score by a neck.
Let’s watch that again! 🤩
Economics wins the The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes and secures his spot in the @LonginesEq #BreedersCup Turf! Congrats to all of the connections! #WAYI
Jockey: Tom Marquand
Trainer: William Haggas
Owner: Isa Salman Al Khalifa
Breeder:… pic.twitter.com/ZG2M4s2eIi— Breeders’ Cup (@BreedersCup) September 14, 2024
The Japanese raider Shin Emperor and Auguste Rodin’s stablemate Los Angeles flashed home purposefully to complete their Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) preparations in style in third and fourth, respectively.
For Economics’ owner Sheikh Isa, who has been pivotal to the Kingdom of Bahrain’s sponsorship of the Leopardstown showpiece, this was a dream result. They skipped the Derby (G1) for a less urgent route to the top, so it was a spectacular vindication of Haggas’s judgement.
“He has proved to everyone now he’s a proper horse,” said the successful owner after Economics had justified 7-4 favoritism. “I’ve been waiting a while for a horse like him, and now we have one. He has beaten some of the best horses in the world and it’s wonderful for the Kingdom of Bahrain.”
Haggas won the Irish Champion for the first time. He is a man of few words but you sensed this was a satisfying triumph.
“It didn’t look very nice but he got the job done,” he said of Economics’ gritty display. “It was a relief. I loved his head carriage in the last furlong, he really put his head down.”
Haggis suggested the Oct. 19 Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot would be next.
If his connections wish to pursue it, he also earned a berth in the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) at Del Mar via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
O’Brien and Moore doffed their respective caps to Economics and expressed themselves very pleased with Auguste Rodin, who will now be trained for the Nov. 24 Japan Cup (G1).
Porta Fortuna Headed for Breeders’ Cup
In other Breeders’ Cup Challenge Race action on the Leopardstown card, Porta Fortuna won the Matron Stakes (G1) and Green Impact the Champions Juvenile Stakes (G2).
The Matron served as a qualifier for the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) at Del Mar, and the Champions Juvenile a qualifier for the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) there.
Porta Fortuna’s trainer, Donnacha O’Brien, said she is pointed to the shorter Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T) in a matchup against males.
“I don’t think we’ll go to the (Oct. 5) Sun Chariot, although I’ll have to confirm with the owners,” her trainer said. “She’ll get an easy week or two now and we had it in our heads that if she won here she would skip Newmarket and we’ll prep her for America.”
