Australia wins Derby for Ballydoyle

Australia, trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Joseph O’Brien, won the Investec Derby at Epsom.

Australia wins Derby for Ballydoyle

Australia lived up to the hype when giving Aidan O’Brien his third successive Investec Derby at Epsom.

Third in the Qipco 2000 Guineas off the back of O’Brien’s claims the regally-bred colt is the best horse he has ever trained, the son of Galileo travelled beautifully throughout.

Having hit the front over a furlong out the 11-8 favourite kicked clear of Kingston Hill and while it looked like he may go away and win by further, he still had a length and a quarter to spare from Roger Varian’s gallant runner-up.

John Gosden’s Romsdal outran his 20-1 price to finish third, another three and a quarter lengths away.

By a Derby winner in Galileo out of an Oaks winner in Ouija Board, the blue riband Classic was the race Australia was destined to win.

Joseph O’Brien looked confident throughout on the chestnut, sitting on the outside of the 16-runner field in mid-division.

He moved into contention so stylishly, having come down the famous hill without a hitch.

Andrea Atzeni gave Kingston Hill every chance and took over at the head of affairs with a quarter of a mile to run, but in truth he always looked a sitting duck for the market leader.

The placed horses from the Dante, Arod and True Story, were just behind the main protagonists with Red Galileo running a massive race, too.

The major disappointment was the winner’s stablemate Geoffrey Chaucer, who was tailed off.

Winning rider O’Brien said: “I had a grand position and was going very easily coming down hill, nearly too easy.

“I got there a bit too soon, I was cantering all the way – I got there too soon but I had to stay going when I did.

“Horses don’t come easier to ride than this fellow – he’s the best (I’ve ridden).”

Aidan O'Brien said: ``We're in a very privileged position to have the horses we have, so it's thanks to everybody. There are so many people involved just to get him to this position.

“Joseph had it in his mind where he wanted to be all the time, to keep it uncomplicated and safe and that is what he did – he gave him a beautiful ride.

“We said what we thought (about him being best Flat horse O’Brien has trained). Maybe it is best to say nothing, but we’ve always thought he was very special – the way he is bred makes him very special.

“The way he travelled through the race he must be very special.

“We’re going through a tricky time with our horses back home, they were very sick in the spring and they all had to get medicated. It was tricky training them after that, some were slower to respond.

“The lads (Coolmore) will speak about targets. He has a lot of options because he has a lot of pace, anything from a mile up.”

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