Green Impact (centre) is ridden out by Shane Foley to beat Delacroix (left) and Bernard Shaw© Photo Healy Racing
Green Impact confirmed his superiority over 5/6 favourite Delacroix as he claimed the four-runner Group 2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes.
Successful over the course and distance in July, with Delacroix a length-and-a-half behind, the Jessica Harrington-trained victor was returned a 5/2 chance this afternoon.
After some early bumping with the favourite, Shane Foley soon settled the Marc Chan-owned homebred in second.
Coming with his challenge over a furlong out, the Wootton Bassett bay was soon ridden to the front and found plenty for pressure in the closing stages, holding off the late effort of the Aidan O'Brien-trained market leader by half-a-length.
The front-running Bernard Shaw was another three-quarters of a length back in third, while Green Triangle was 11-lengths away in rear.
"It's lovely to get one on the board for this weekend because it's very tough and very competitive racing," Harrington comented.
Regarding the early race skirmishes she added: "No-one was going to box him in. It's so easy in a four horse race to get into a pocket but we had that plan well worked out beforehand.
"He was always a lovely horse, very laid-back and very easy to train. He's a very big horse and I think we probably haven't seen the best of him yet.
"We can dream all winter. He's a big horse and needs time to fill out his frame. I think we'll see a really nice horse next year.
"I don't know whether we'll go to the Guineas first and then see what happens.
"I would love to win the Derby. He's out of a Galileo mare so there is no reason why he wouldn't get a mile-and-a-half.
"I still think he's probably a little bit of a weak horse this year and think he'll be better next year."
The owner's racing manager Jamie McCalmont added: "He's the first horse that Marc Chan has ever bred so it's amazing for him. He's in Hong Kong and he'll be over the moon with this.
"Thanks to Norelands where he was raised. Jessie and Kate thought he was a good horse back in April and said 'we're going to run this horse on Irish Derby weekend' and they were 100 percent right.
"That will be it for the year now and we'll dream for next year. He's done all we want to do this year and that's enough for him.
"Kate and Jessie say he just needs the time. He'll be a great horse for us next year hopefully."
STEWARDS REPORT
The Raceday Stewards enquired into an incident shortly after leaving the stalls involving Delacroix, ridden by R.L. Moore, placed second, and Green Impact, ridden by S. Foley, placed first, where it appeared there was contact between the two. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. R. L. Moore stated that there was very minor contact as the horse inside moved out. S. Foley stated that he moved out off heels. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards were satisfied that no further action was warranted.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
