Yeats and Grey Swallow victorious

Yeats and Grey Swallow both succeeded in their classic preps at Leopardstown on Sunday, Yeats in the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes and Grey Swallow in the Leopardstown 2000 Guineas Trial.

A son of Sadler's Wells trained by Aidan O'Brien, Yeats was made the favorite for the Epsom Derby off his maiden victory last September. The Ballysax was little more than a workout, as Yeats (1-3) led the field of three throughout for a 10-length score over Dabiroun, going 1 1/4 miles on soft ground in 2:23.40. He will have his final prep for the June 5 Epsom Derby in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown on May 9.

The odds-on Grey Swallow held off Meath by a short head in the one-mile Guineas Trial. Undefeated after three starts, he now goes to the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 1.