Defiantly wins at Goodwood for Joseph O'Brien

Deauville Sunday review including Prix Morny and Romanet

Horse Racing

Sun August 23, 2026 · 1M ago

Defiantly ran his rivals ragged at Deauville to tee up a potential shot at the Lexus Melbourne Cup.

Defiantly cut for Melbourne

Joseph O'Brien's Defiantly ran out a ready winner of the Sumbe Prix Kergorlay and was slashed in the market for this year's Melbourne Cup at Flemington.

The four-year-old, sent off a 9/2 shot under the in-form Dylan Browne McMonagle, went out in front and stayed on powerfully over the extended mile and three-quarter trip to beat 5/6 favourite Santorini Star by five and a half lengths.

Outstayed them!

Defiantly strikes in the G2 Prix Kergorlay for @DylanBrowneMcM and Joseph O'Brien... pic.twitter.com/uSoofEn3RB
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 23, 2026

The winning trainer told Sky Sports Racing: "I thought Dylan gave him a lovely ride and he's obviously a horse that's improving rapidly.

"I'm delighted to win a Group 2. I actually thought that when Dylan hadn't gone for the stick by the time he got down to the 400m marker, it was going to be hard to pass him for sure."

Paddy Power and Sky Bet go 12/1 (from 20s) for the Melbourne Cup about the winner and, regarding a possible trip Down Under, the trainer added: "I'm imagine it'll be something like that now but we'll speak to the ownership. We came here to find out if that was going to be on the cards and it looks like it might be."

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