In the words of owner Isa Salman Al Khalifa, Economics “proved to everyone that he’s a proper horse” when winning a thrilling renewal of The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

William Haggas’s charge was sent off favourite on Saturday, following impressive Group 2 wins at York and Deauville, but you had to go back as far as Pentire in 1995, when the winner broke his Group 1 duck in the feature.

The striking chesnut was settled in midfield by Tom Marquand, as last year’s second Luxembourg led the field, with the 2023 winner Auguste Rodin racing towards the back of the field. Economics was pushed along from over two furlongs out and seemed to find another gear when Auguste Rodin eyeballed him a furlong from home.

The pair rallied to the line, where Economics prevailed by a neck, while Japanese raider Shin Emperor added international interest back in third. Haggas later complimented the winner’s determined attitude, saying, “I loved his head carriage. I thought the other horse was going to come and beat him.”

“I’ve been waiting a while for a horse like him,” the winning owner added. When asked what races he was dreaming of going forward, he said with a smile, “I’m dreaming of enjoying today.”

A 160,000gns yearling buy by Highclere Agency at the Tattersalls Book 2 Sale, the son of Night Of Thunder was bred by Copgrove Hall Stud.