Ballydoyle's Bolshoi Ballet bags Ballysax Bolshoi Ballet's price for the Epsom Derby was slashed following an easy win in the Group 3 P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown today, scoring for Ballydoyle and jockey Ryan Moore. Galileo-sired Bolshoi Ballet was fifth on his only Stakes run as a juvenile in October's Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and today reappeared in fine fettle as he quickened well in the home straight to beat runner-up Flying Visit by two and a quarter lengths. Three of this millennium's Ballysax winners, Galileo (in 2001), High Chaparral (2002) and Harzand (2016), have gone on to Epsom Derby success and following the race Paddy Power cut Bolshoi Ballet to 8/1, from 20s, for the June 4 Classic. Trainer Aidan O’Brien, winning the race for the fourth consecutive year, stated “you’d be delighted with him as he only ran on soft ground and will have learned a lot today. “He’ll probably come back here for the Derrinstown (Stud Derby Trial) if all goes well. He’s straightforward and, while you’re never sure, he should get 1m4f. He goes to the line well.” Quotes from Alan Magee
