ALMOST certain to be named as the champion three-year-old colt of 2014 in Europe from 10 to 12 furlongs, Australia was rated by his trainer Aidan O’Brien as one of the best horses that he has ever trained. His three victories last year came in the Epsom Derby, the Irish Derby and the Juddmonte International, all Group 1 events, and he had also won two of his three starts as a two-year-old. Never out of the first three in eight outings, he is standing his first season at Coolmore this year.

Bred by Lord Derby, Australia was bought for 525,000 guineas at the Newmarket October Book 1 Sale of 2012, the same price that Coolmore had also paid for Camelot two years earlier. One of only two Epsom Derby winners whose sire won the Derby and whose dam won the Oaks, Australia really does have an exceptional pedigree. He is the third Epsom Derby hero sired by the six times champion sire Galileo, who registered the same Derby double in 2001 and has already sired 177 blacktype winners.