With a second Irish-trained winner of the day, the lightly-raced Jan Brueghel maintained his unbeaten record in the Group 3 John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes, a recognised trial for the Group 1 St Leger at Doncaster.

Ryan Moore pushed the 4/5 favourite alongside pace-setter Meydaan after turning into the straight, and his mount showed tenacity to hold off challenges from eventual runner-up Bellum Justum and Sayedaty Sadaty. The distances were a neck and almost four lengths.

Jan Brueghel is now unbeaten in three starts, having won a maiden by eight lengths and the Group 3 International Stakes at the Curragh.

Previous winners

This was a fourth success in the John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes for trainer Aidan O’Brien, with his previous winners including multiple Group 1 scorers Highland Reel (2015) and Mogul (2020).

O’Brien said: “Jan Brueghel stays very well. He is very babyish and green. He had to do an extra round in the parade ring because we were talking, and Ryan had to go down on his own. He said he was very green going to the start.

“I would say you’d have to go straight to the St Leger.

“Ryan said he was delighted when the horse went off in front, but he was very green when he was on his own. He is a baby – time and distance is going to improve him. We didn’t do anything with him last year and you can really see it now. You’d have to be very happy. Ryan was very good on him.

“He led the other two to the leader and then got left there. All he was doing was looking in front of him – he wasn’t really concentrating because he is such a baby – but he fought them off when Ryan asked him.

“I would say you’d have to go straight to the St Leger. It was a bit of a crash-course to come here, and he had a lot to learn in a short time. It is only his third run but I wouldn’t think there would be a chance for a run in between. He was a lot heavier today than for his last run which usually means he is maturing.

“We also have the horse that won at Royal Ascot – Illinois - for the St Leger and the Irish Derby winner Los Angeles is a possible.”

Moore said: “Jan Brueghel will get better, still. There is definitely more class in there, we just need to get it out.”