Australia day at Leopardstown as Derby winner sires two Classic hopes

Derby winner Australia emerged from Leopardstown's Classic trials on Saturday with two Group 1 aspirants in the shape of Buckhurst and Broome.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Broome already has form at the highest level, having finished his juvenile campaign just a neck behind Royal Marine in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, and looks to have improved markedly from two to three after recording a facile win in the Group 3 PW McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes.

The Ballsax Stakes has proved a launch pad for a successful Derby campaign, with Harzand landing the 2016 edition, while Broome also holds entries in the 2,000 Guineas.

Broome was signed for by MV Magnier at 150,000gns at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Croom House Stud, whose Denis and Joan Brosnan bred the youngster under the family's Epona Bloodstock banner.

Broome is the sixth foal out of the Listed-winning two-year-old Sweepstake, a daughter of Acclamation, and becomes the second Group winner sired by Australia, joining Godolphin's Prix du Calvados scorer Beyond Reason.

Australia: in good form with first three-year-oldsCredit: Coolmore

Buckhurst did not run at two, but the Derby entrant got his career off to a perfect start when landing a competitive-looking edition of the Leopardstown 'Summer Sizzler' Maiden.

Purchased by trainer Joseph O'Brien for owner Lloyd Williams at a cost of 70,000gns at the Tattersalls Book 1 sale, Buckhurst was bred by Denford Stud out of the Green Desert mare Artful.

There is Classic form close up in Buckhurst's pedigree, as he is out of a half-sister to the Group 3 winner Chintz, best known as the dam of Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero The Gurkha, who now stands alongside Australia at Coolmore.

Saturday's results capped a hot spell for Australia's first three-year-olds, with the likes of Bangkok, Lord Lamington, Elisheba and Altair also having shown abundant promise in 2019.