Marengo enhances his Derby prospects

Battle Of Marengo enhanced his Epsom Derby prospects with a win in the Group 3 P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown today, scoring a double on the day for trainer Aidan O'Brien and his jockey son Joseph O'Brien.

The son of Galileo stretched his unbeaten record to four when readily giving away 5lbs to four rivals, improving past leader Sugar Boy two furlongs out before passing the post a length and three parts in front of that rival.

Afterwards O'Brien Snr stated “it's very heavy ground today and you'd have to be delighted with that - as a start off you couldn't ask him to do any more.”

“He's a lovely mover and you'd have to say he'd prefer good ground. He'll come back here for the Derrinstown Derby Trial next month.”

Boylesports later cut Battle Of Marengo to 8/1 (from 12s) for the Epsom Derby although Paddy Power left him unchanged at 12s for the same race.

The win was completing a double for Ballydoyle having earlier had success with Declaration Of War

Quotes from Alan Magee