Battle of Marengo Easy Beresford Winner

By Myra Lewyn 

Coolmore and partners’ Battle of Marengo scored easily over three opponents in the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes (Ire-II) for 2-year-olds on Sept. 30 at the Curragh, providing trainer Aidan O’Brien with a 12th win in the race.

Battle of Marengo receives an automatic starting berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT) Nov. 3 at Santa Anita Park as the Beresford is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series. But he might not run again this year, according to O’Brien, who added that the Racing Post Trophy (Eng-I) on Oct. 27 could be a possible next start.

“He'd be a possible for the race in Doncaster (Racing Post Trophy), although he's done plenty this year and he doesn't need to run again,” O’Brien said.

The Galileo (Ire) colt, the 4-to-9 favorite, raced in second early on less than ideal course conditions before rallying to overtake pacesetter Orgilgo Bay in the straight, then shaking clear to win by 3 1/2 lengths over heavy going.

With Joseph O’Brien at the reins, Battle of Marengo recorded his first group win and second stakes win from four lifetime starts.

“You'd have to be delighted with that, especially considering Joseph said he hated the ground,” Aidan O’Brien told England’s Press Association about the colt’s convincing win in the one-mile race.

Battle of Marengo was cut 16-to-1 for the 2013 Epsom Derby (Eng- I) by bookmakers William Hill. He previously established himself as a classics candidate with his 1 3/4- length triumph in the one-mile Icon Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Trial early last month in his stakes debut at Leopardstown. In his start prior to that, he scored a visually impressive 11-length win to break his maiden on Aug. 21 at Gowran Park.

The Juddmonte Beresford also launched the new points-based qualifying program of 36 preps for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Battle of Marengo earned 10 points for the win.

Among 131 stakes winners for Coolmore’s red-hot sire Galileo, Irish-bred Battle of Marengo is the second winner from two to race produced by the stakes-winning Green Desert mare Anna Karenina.