DESPITE having enjoyed an excellent international campaign in 2013, Aidan O’Brien only won a single domestic Group 1 during that year. However, despite not having as many winners on Irish Champions Weekend as many expected, the Ballydoyle team were very much back on track over the course of the year, winning five of the 12 domestic Group 1 races.

Among those victories were three classic successes, with Marvellous winning the Irish 1000 Guineas, Australia winning the Irish Derby and Bracelet taking the Irish Oaks. Indeed, it was Australia who shone the brightest for Ballydoyle throughout the season, with the regally-bred son of Galileo also winning the Derby at Epsom and the Juddmonte International.