O’Brien tightens his grip on the Epsom Derby

It has been a perfect 2 weeks for Aidan O’Brien, even by his own very high standards. Not only did he saddle the winner of both the 1000 and 2000 Guineas at Newmarket he then saw a number of his blue blood charges stamp their claims for Epsom glory with impressive performances in the key Derby trials run in the last fortnight.

First up was Sir Dragonet ( by Camelot) who ran out an impressive winner of the Chester Vase by 8 lengths beating his better fancied rival Norway ( by Galileo) into second. Incredibly after only seeing a racecourse for the first time thirteen days previous to this run he is now the 4 to 1 favourite for the Investec Derby even though he is not even entered at this stage. He did look something special when powering away by 8 lengths at Chester but the race perhaps fell apart on the soft ground and he was not even mentioned as a Derby horse before the start of the season. The owners will need to pay one million Swedish Kroner to supplement him, but am sure that will not be an issue for them.

One day later O’Brien completed the one-two in the Dee Stakes at Chester, this time it was Circus Maximus (by Galileo) who beat stablemate Mohawk ( by Galileo) a shade cosily. Circus Maximus who boasted strong form as a two year old behind the 2000 Guineas winner is the better fancied of the two for the Derby and is currently an attractive win and place price at 20-1. On to Lingfield and Anthony Van Dyck another Galileo colt with good two year old form comfortably won the Lingfield Derby Trial seeing out the 2400 metre Derby trip really well. Then one day later at the Curragh and Broome(by Australia) followed up his 8 length win in the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes by winning another Group 3, the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial in workmanlike fashion and is the current second favourite for the Derby. For good measure the final trial, the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York saw leading fancy for the Derby, Too Darn Hot (by Dubawi) beaten into second after which trainer John Gosden decided he would miss the Derby and run over 1600 metres on his next start. O’ Brien did not win this trial but his Japan (by Galileo) still finished well in fourth and was thought to need the run. He too has a Derby entry. O’Brien has other horses entered and at this stage we do not know how many of his team will line up in the Derby but rest assured they will be there in numbers, and if one of his lesser fancied entries wins it would not be the first time as Wings of Eagles demonstrated in 2017.

Opposition to the O’Brien battalions is dwindling but there is hope away from Ballydoyle. The Dante was won in tough fashion by Telecaster (by New Approach) who is also not entered in the Derby and connections now to have think long and hard about paying the supplement especially as he looked to have a hard enough race at York, but then again they may be tempted as it is the Derby. The best of the English hopes looks to be Bangkok (by Australia) who actually beat Telecaster first time out and then won the Classic Trial at Sandown. His pedigree is stamina laden and he looks rock solid around the 12 to 1 mark. There is also is one other strong contender from over the Irish Sea, Kevin Prendergast’s Madhmoon (by Dawn Approach) who stayed on nicely when fourth in the 2000 Guineas and connections feel he definitely wants further so he also comes into the reckoning.

Final preparations have still to be made, and supplements paid or not paid before we see who lines up on 01 June.