O’Brien planning four-pronged attack on Investec Derby
Published:Champion Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has revealed that he could be four-handed in the Investec Derby at Epsom on Saturday, June 7th, as he bids to win the contest for the fifth time.
O’Brien first landed the premier Classic in 2001 with Galileo, and has since saddled High Chaparral (2002), Camelot (2012) and Ruler Of The World (2013) to success in the Group 1 contest.
This year his leading hope is Australia, the red-hot 11/8 favourite with Coral, official betting partner of the Investec Derby Festival.
The firm are also offering a special price of 9/4 about Australia completing the English/Irish Derby double and 10/1 about the son of Galileo going through the season unbeaten (must run once more after Investec Derby).
The Ballydoyle handler believes the 2000 Guineas third is “exceptional” and the “a step up” from his four previous winners.
O’Brien, speaking on a media day at his stables, said: “He’s a Derby horse like we’ve never had before, that’s the reality.
“I thought Camelot was the best horse we had for the Derby, but this horse is another step up. The very first time he worked as a two-year-old we knew he was exceptional and the lads always rated him.
“I’ve never had a horse like this. I’m not trying to blow him up, I’m just saying how it is. A lot of things have to go right, though. For a horse by Galileo to be doing what he’s doing, we’ve never had that before.”
O’Brien’s other likely runners in the 2014 Investec Derby are Chester Vase winner Orchestra (20/1 with Coral), Dee Stakes scorer Kingfisher (33/1) and Geoffrey Chaucer (14/1).
Ryan Moore partnered Orchestra to victory at Chester, and O’Brien believes that there is a “big chance” that he will be in the saddle again at Epsom.
He said: “I was very happy with the way Orchestra won at Chester. I wasn’t sure he would get a mile and a half even though his pedigree is very stout. I know Ryan Moore was also impressed with him at Chester and thinks he has a big chance in the Derby.
“The way he travelled he should have no problem with Epsom and Ryan was happy with him. There is a big chance Ryan will ride at Epsom.”
