Lion roars again, this time in Ireland

– The Irish Champion Stakes was a race billed between two horses – Saxon Warrior and Roaring Lion – and it proved just that, with the John Gosdentrained 8-11 favourite Roaring Lion coming out on top in a thriller at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Ridden by the in-form Oisin Murphy, Roaring Lion looked to have plenty to do with 400m to run in the Group 1 highlight, as Ryan Moore kicked for home on Aidan O’Brien-trained Saxon Warrior.

However, despite Saxon Warrior sticking on gamely, the English 2000 Guineas hero was worn down late on by his old foe to be beaten a neck, to the joy of favourite backers, not to mention owner Sheikh Fahad.

It was the sixth meeting between the first two home and the score now stands four to two in Roaring Lion’s favour.

“I had a lot of belief in the horse, John Gosden and Oisin,” said Sheikh Fahad. “It’s tricky when you come to a different country – that’s his first time on a plane since he was a baby – so for him to take it in his stride and do that on the racetrack was great to see. It was a special feeling.

“Thank God, we’re very lucky. It’s a big team effort and we work hard all year round.

“The race panned out better for Saxon than us, but his turn of foot to go and get him was breathtaking.”

A delighted Murphy said: “I didn’t have much experience of Leopardstown and was really learning on the job.

“But I had the right horse and this win in my home country means the world to me. I wondered how I’d react if we won and all I can say is that it’s a surreal feeling.”–

Dublin