AIDAN O’BRIEN has a record eight Cazoo Derby wins to his name.
And if that wasn’t good enough, he has four of the top six in the market for this year’s race on June 4.
O’Brien has over 200 horses in his care at his Ballydoyle stables in Tipperary
The Ballydoyle wizard has been forced to rule out long-time antepost favourite Luxembourg, but still has an embarrassment of riches to call upon.
O’Brien swooped in two trials at Chester, Lingfield’s Derby trial and again at Leopardstown on Sunday with new market leader Stone Age.
The 52-year-old is well-placed to extend his record to nine wins but working out with which horse may prove the hardest part of the puzzle.
On a recent press morning, the Irish trainer spoke about each of his contenders. But what do we make of their chances?
Stone Age 9-4
A maiden at two with no wins from five outings, Stone Age has quickly put that right at three with two easy victories on the spin.
He shot into market favouritism for Epsom after an easy win in the Leopadstown Derby Trial on Sunday and his trainer revealed the following day that Ryan Moore is likely to ride him.
Verdict: 8/10
Stays strongly and wouldn’t worry about his juvenile record, they were in hot races over too short. Main negative is his price which continues to shorten after it was hinted Moore would ride him.
What O’Brien says:
“It would be hard not to be impressed with Stone Age at Leopardstown. He would have liked for something to have led him. There was no point messing him about and Ryan let him roll along, which was the right thing. The good thing about him is that he had a lot of experience from two and he was always very happy to get leads at two and he learned a lot.”
Moore speaks with O’Brien after Stone Age’s five and a half length win at Leopardstown
Changingoftheguard 5-1
An easy winner at Dundalk, Changingoftheguard improved again to take the Chester Vase, where New London ran poorly for Charlie Appleby.
Handling the track at Epsom is a huge plus for any Epsom hopeful as you need plenty of gears and the ability to run on the turn.
Verdict: 9/10
Surely achieved just as much as Stone Age did but is double the price. Had a good test at Chester and is still on a big upward curve.
What O’Brien says:
“Changingoftheguard will go forward and that would suit the horse. It didn’t bother us he didn’t win at two. It’s always just a pointer to three.”
Changingoftheguard cruised to an easy win from New London at Chester last week
Star Of India 12-1
Less experienced than some of his stablemates, he turned his poor Craven effort on its head with an easy win at Chester over further.
But the Dee Stakes didn’t look the strongest of heats and he surely has a bit more to prove than the others.
Verdict: 6/10
Not much got home in the Chester race and he only likely picked up the pieces. The Derby is a different ball game and might not have the know how just yet.
What O’Brien says:
“He’s a bit lazier than some of the others so we might have to try and tuck him in in the race.”
Point Lonsdale 14-1
The best of O’Brien’s Derby contenders at two, by a mile, Point Lonsdale looks a bit of a dark horse.
He was nowhere to be seen in the 2000 Guineas when an eased off tenth but was well-backed before the off. A step up in trip will surely help and all of O’Brien’s team this year have come on by the bucket load for their first outing.
Verdict: 9/10
Looks a decent bet on his juvenile form. Will appreciate further and not given a hard time in the Guineas. Going under the radar.
What O’Brien says:
“He’s very good and I’d expect him to step forward a lot from the Guineas. We’re giving him the time to help him do that, rather than rushing him back into the Dante. Obviously we thought he’d run a bit better than he did at Newmarket but he’s still very much in our Derby plans. He’s in good shape and he’s a naturally fit and balanced horse, so we don’t have to teach him anything and he’s very much in the mix now.”
United Nations 14-1
A Lingfield Derby Trial winner, he’s now two from four and another who improved hugely for their first outing.
He might not be as sharp as some of the others but did well to knuckle down at Lingfield when most of the field flattened out, despite hanging at one point.
Verdict: 6/10
Shapes like more of a stayer and didn’t look battle ready just yet at Lingfield.
What O’Brien says:
“He ran very well at Epsom and was finishing very well and he looked like a horse who was crying out to go a mile and a half. That day they went very slow and sprinted at Epsom. We weren’t expecting the pace to be as hot as it was at Lingfield and he took some reeling in.”
Bluegrass 50-1
Will test his mettle at York in the Dante at Thursday and could be O’Brien’s sixth dart to fire at Epsom if he goes well.
He’s yet to show any form that suggests he’s up to winning a Derby but again should improve for his outing behind Piz Badile.
Verdict: 5/10
Too early to rule him out of contention and if he goes well in the Dante, the 50-1 around will suddenly be five times what’s available.
