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Battle Of Marengo Shortened for Derby Victory After Ballysax Win 16/04/13

A brief scan down the illustrious roll of honour of Leopardstown’s Ballysax Stakes immediately highlights that it is definitely a race that can provide clues for the forthcoming classics, especially when the winner is trained by Aidan O'Brien. Recent winners of the Group Three contest from the Ballydoyle stable include Fame and Glory, Yeats, High Chapparel and Galileo and Sunday’s renewal saw Aidan O’Brien’s Battle Of Marengo land victory to cement his place towards the top of the ante-post betting for the 2013 Derby.

Battle Of Marengo
Caroline Norris

Many winners have used this race as a springboard to Group One glory and it could be the turn of another O'Brien Colt to use the Ballysax as a catalyst for Epsom glory.

Battle Of Marengo split opinions in the betting offices after his workmanlike one-and-three-quarter length success on his seasonal debut, but he has since solidified with most of the bookmakers and he is a solid 8/1 shot for the Derby at this stage, which will no doubt change between now and June with many trials still to be run.

O’Brien will undoubtedly have a superb string heading to Epsom, but his emphatic Guineas weekend to see if any three-year-olds sparkle there before a trip to the world famous event on June 1 in what should be a wide open renewal of the Group One blue riband event.