Champion and fan favorite Tepin's last foal became a grade 1 winner July 5 when Delacroix emerged triumphant in the clash of generations in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes (G1) at Sandown Park.
The disappointing Epsom Derby (G1) favorite was at the rear of the field turning in and jockey Ryan Moore saw his passage blocked multiple times when looking to mount his challenge in the home straight. However, the son of Dubawi showed a blistering turn of foot when switched to the outside to nab Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) winner Ombudsman on the line.
Moore told ITV Racing: "It wasn't the first, second, or third plan, as no one really wanted to make it. William got first run on me, but he's a very good horse with a mighty turn of foot.
"They went steady for this class of horse, but his turn of foot made the difference."
Delacroix's neck success over Ombudsman gave Moore and winning trainer Aidan O'Brien their third straight win in the Eclipse, and fourth in the last five runnings. The 3-year-old was cut to 9-2 (from 16) for next month's Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at York.
O'Brien said: "Ryan worked it all out and unbelievable credit to him. It was an incredible ride as he had to change his plan four times. Ryan said to me during the week that he's a very fast horse and wouldn't be surprised if he's a miler.
"That's why you leave it to Ryan as they know the horses. There's always a plan but I dare say that was plan Z, but it was a very difficult thing he did and it was a masterful ride."
Delacroix was also cut to 14-1 (from 50) for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) by Paddy Power, but Moore was cool on the idea of him stepping back up in trip.
He said: "I think 10 furlongs is fine, if anything he'd run over shorter. We've always held him in high regard and he was the only one coming here who hadn't won a group 1, but had always threatened to."
John Gosden, joint-trainer of Ombudsman, told ITV Racing: "I said before it could be a messy race and I was correct. We thought Delacroix would go forward and the French horse (Sosie) would sit handy and then it was all the other way around. That can happen in small fields.
"He's run a wonderful race. Full marks to the winner, he's outstayed us and at the end it was down to stamina."
Ruling Court emerged best of the classic winners in third ahead of Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, G1) winner Camille Pissarro in fourth with Hotazhell fifth ahead of Sosie, who had set the pace from the front.
Delacroix is the final foal produced out of the Hall of Fame race mare Tepin, who sold to Coolmore's M.V. Magnier for $8 million while in foal to Curlin at Fasig-Tipton's The November Sale in 2017. Tepin begat four foals for Coolmore before her untimely death.
READ: Dual Champion, Hall of Fame Mare Tepin Dies
Tepin's 4-year-old daughter Grateful, by Galileo, became the storied mare's first grade 1 winner when she captured the 2024 Prix de Royallieu (G1) at ParisLongchamp for Coolmore and O'Brien.
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