Aidan O’Brien’s Douglas Macarthur – with a strong connection to Lynward Park’s Alfred Nobel – firmed in betting for the June 3 English Derby by winning the Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown in Ireland yesterday. (Sunday)
Douglas Macarthur is by the incredible Galileo, who also sired the winners of the English 1000 Guineas and 2000 Guineas over the weekend and has 237 Stakes winners, with 64 successful at Group 1 level. Galileo won the Derby Trial Stakes in 2001 before winning the English Derby.
Douglas Macarthur’s dam, Alluring Park, is a half-sister to Dazzling Park, the 1999 champion European 3Y0 filly and the grand-dam of Alfred Nobel.
Douglas Macarthur, a full brother to the English Oaks winner Was, was a $2million-plus yearling.