Jan Brueghel and Ryan Moore head to the winner’s circle at Epsom. (Breandán Ó hUallacháin photo)
By Breandán Ó hUallacháin
Jan Brueghel (100/30) won the Group 1 Betfred Coronation Stakes at Epsom Friday afternoon.
Stepping up in distance from his previous race over a mile and a quarter, the Aidan O’Brien-trained four-year-old was another success in the race for the Coolmore partners, who claimed the contest last season with Luxembourg.
Jan Brueghel, who began his 2025 campaign with a runner-up spot behind the Josph O’Brien-handled Galen over two furlongs shorter at The Curragh, was a previous English St Leger winner, so would have preferred today’s longer distance.
Speaking during a Betfred Derby Festival Zoom call organised by The Jockey Club earlier this week with Aidan O’Brien, the Ballydoyle handler said of Jan Brueghel:
“Jan Brueghel will definitely be happier going back up to a mile and a half. He was a Leger winner starting out over a mile and a quarter last time so was always going to lack sharpness, but he has come out of the race well (at The Curragh).”
Continuous, the race’s outsider in the betting market this afternoon, set the early pace as expected under Wayne Lordan for his more illustrious stable mate.
The race favourite, the Irish-bred son of Gleneagles, Calandangan (8/13 favourite), came on the outside of the home down the Epsom home stretch.
For just a split second it looked as though Michael Barzalona on the Aga Khan-owned Calandangan would go past Jan Brueghel, but the son of Galileo was ready for a battle.
Similar to his much-loved sire, Jan Brueghel put his head down and fought to the winning line, holding off the French-trained runner-up by a half-length.
It was a clean sweep of the places for Irish-bred horses, as the six-year-old Giavellotto (11/2), ridden by Oisín Murphy for handler Marco Botti, claimed the third place. The son of Mastercraftsman was seven lengths further back of the runner-up.
It was a tenth success in the race for the wining conditioner, Aidan O’Brien, and the win ensures the late Galileo has now sired a Group 1 winner in each of the last twenty seasons – an incredible feat.
Jan Brueghel was unbeaten last season during his three-year-old campaign, including a win over his stable companion Illinois in the Betfred St Leger at Doncaster last September. Aidan O’Brien confirmed last week following the retirement of Kyprios, that Illinois will be the main hope of the Ballydoyle team for this season’s Gold Cup at Royal Ascot later this month.
The well-related winner, Jan Brueghel was bred by Barronstown Stud in Ireland. He is by Coolmore’s former sire Galileo out of Devoted To You, who was by Danehill Dancer. Jan Brueghel is a full-brother to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner Sovereign, and to the J.P. McManus-owned Group 3 winner Dawn Rising.
Aidan O’Brien, who was winning his 30th Group 1 race at the Betfred Derby Festival courtesy of Jan Brueghel, said of this afternoon’s winner:
“He’s very tough and Ryan (Moore) gave him a class ride, but you know he doesn’t surrender. He’d improved a lot from the last day, and you could see he was pricking his ears at the finish.
“He’s a very brave horse and if you pass him slowly, you’re in trouble. Ryan gave him an incredible ride, balanced him, and got him in a lovely rhythm, and you can see him starting to come from a long way out.”
Ryan Moore was also incredibly pleased with Jan Brueghel’s attitude and determination, saying:
“He had only been beaten once and that was his first run this year over a mile and a quarter. He stays this trip very well and is an uncomplicated horse really. He showed a great attitude.”
When speaking to the media after the race, Aidan O’Brien suggested that Jan Brueghel may now be pointed to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp in October, but with the current strength and depth of the Ballydoyle team, plans may change before then.
