DUBAI DUTY FREE IRISH

DERBY (GROUP 1)

A RACE that had the potential to throw up any number of permutations served up a script of fairytale proportions as the brothers Joseph and Donnacha O’Brien upstaged their father Aidan with the emerging middle-distance star Latrobe.

An Irish Derby that offered Saxon Warrior a shot a redemption after his Epsom eclipse, or a chance for Dee Ex Bee to confirm that Derby form, instead played host to an altogether different narrative. It saw Joseph O’Brien write yet another a chapter in his burgeoning training career while it marked the continuation of a truly epic season for the winning jockey.

It is now just over two years since Joseph O’Brien began his training career with an across-the-card four-timer on a June bank holiday Monday. The last eight monthsin particular have yielded some seismic triumphs and a success that was achieved with his younger brother represented the crowning moment of a period that has taken in both a Melbourne Cup and an Irish Gold Cup.

An Irish Derby victory for Donnacha O’Brien added further lustre to a season that had already brought successes in the 2000 Guineas and the Oaks.

Just as he did with Rekindling in Melbourne, the trainer achieved this victory at the expense of his father who had to settle for a two-three-four-five as he attempted to make it 13 triumphs in the country’s richest race.

Rostropovich, who looked as though he might give Padraig Beggy another Derby, led home the Ballydoyle team as Saxon Warrior had to settle for third. The latter ran a game and solid race but a return to shorter trips beckons for the evens favourite.

Latrobe came into this race as one of the less heralded runners. The Lloyd Williams-owned colt warmed up for this assignment with an effortless success in a maiden over this course and distance three weeks previously and that run had been preceded by three very honourable runner-up efforts. A rating of 103 left the winner with lots to find at this level but he showed just why his trainer has long held him in such regard.

HOLD-UP

Afterwards Joseph stressed that the winning of this race came early on as initial plans to hold up Latrobe were ditched and Donnacha O’Brien decided to go forward with the Camelot colt. This meant that the 16/1 shot was tracking the pace-setting Rostropovich after a furlong and there was no doubt that the front rank was the place to be in a sedately run race.

In truth, the overseas team of Dee Ex Bee (who was reported to have pulled a front shoe), Old Persian and Knight To Behold never really threatened. Indeed as the field turned for home Rostropovich and Latrobe went toe-to-toe while Dee Ex Bee responded to Ryan Moore’s promptings to put himself in with every chance. From around two furlongs to run Latrobe seemed to have his aforementioned opponents covered but he still had to fight every step of the way.

Rostropovich refused to give in and, passing the furlong marker, Saxon Warrior threatened to pull this out of the fire. Latrobe never flinched in the heat of battle though and he kept on bravely to carry the day by half a length. Rostropovich finished a neck ahead of Saxon Warrior, with Delano Roosevelt and The Pentagon filling the next two placings.

GO FORWARD

“He broke a bit slow but there wasn’t much pace on and Donnacha decided to go forward with him. That was the winning of the race right there as he must have made up five or six places over the course of the first furlong,” exclaimed a thrilled Joseph O’Brien.

“I’m just so grateful and so lucky to be in this position and there’s so many people to thank, especially Lloyd and Nick (Williams) who have been great supporters of mine. We bought this horse from Eddie O’Leary as a yearling and we’ve always loved him.

“He didn’t win until a few weeks ago but he’s never disappointed us. His first run last season was a lovely one, he got beaten by a very good horse in Hunting Horn on his first run this season and a slow pace over 10 furlongs in the Gallinule didn’t suit him either and then he won his maiden well.

“To come here and run today was plan a and I’ll sit down with Lloyd and Nick and let the dust settle and make a plan for this horse in around 10 days or so,” added the trainer.

Donnacha O’Brien said: “I did think that he would run well and the race set up nicely for him. We went steady, I was able to go forward on him and then when he needed to, he showed a lot of guts and determination which is what you’d expect from a Camelot.”

Aidan O’Brien was just as thrilled as his sons and said: “It’s incredible really, what can I say? You couldn’t dream it up. It was a great race, a great finish and its an unbelievably special day. I was hoping for the two lads that he (Latrobe) would keep going. They work so hard and it would have been a sickener for them if they had gotten chinned.”

Saxon Warrior is now set to come back to 10 furlongs with the Juddmonte International and the Irish Champion Stakes now likely to form part of his autumn campaign.