French Derby beckons for A Boy Named Susie

The Prix du Jockey Club is the probable next port of call for Donnacha O’Brien’s promising colt A Boy Named Susie.

A son of Starspangledbanner, he ran five times as a juvenile, and while he only won once he did manage to finish placed in several Group races.

He was second to Christmas Day in the Eyrefield Stakes and in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud to Pierre Bonnard, both of whom he encountered again when returning to action in the Ballysax Stakes on Sunday.

Christmas Day came out on top once more with Endorsement the runner-up as A Boy Named Susie was third, a valiant one-length defeat that is likely to lead him across Channel with Classic dreams.

“We were very pleased with that performance,” said O’Brien.

“After that we’re thinking of the French Derby, the Prix du Jockey Club, next for him.

“We’ve been happy with him after the winter and I thought that was a very good run, he was probably a little bit unlucky not to win and he may have done with a smoother run, but it was a lovely start.”

From the same stable is the promising Night Of Thunder colt Shaihaan, who hit the ground running when winning a Curragh maiden by three and a half lengths in late March.

The Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial, held at Leopardstown in May, is likely to be the next port of call for the Al Shaqab-owned chestnut.

“He’s done very well, we’re planning to send him to the next Derby trial at Leopardstown, the one they used to call the Derrinstown Stud Stakes.”