Emirates Airline Champion Stakes

[NoChanceToDance]

From RP......

Eagle flies O'Brien nest to join Mike De Kock



by Paul Eacott



EAGLE MOUNTAIN filled the silver medal position in a Group 1 race for the second time in his three-year-old career on Saturday on what proved to be his final start for Aidan O'Brien.

After the son of Rock Of Gibraltar had gone down by short head behind Literato in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes, O'Brien revealed that he had been sold and will now join Mike De Kock.

The Derby runner-up had not been seen since winning a Group 2 at the Curragh in mid-August, and O'Brien was delighted with his returning effort.

He said: “Eagle Mountain ran a stormer. He is a horse that will improve for his first run back after a break and I think he is a horse who will improve again.

“The horse is sold, to Mike De Kock, and I wish him every success with the horse. He bought Mullins Bay from us as well.”

Eagle Mountain finished third behind stablemate Solider Of Fortune when 6-4 favourite for the Irish Derby off the back of his Epsom run, and was fifth in the Stan James 2,000 Guineas on his seasonal return, having won two from six starts as a juvenile.