O'Brien searches for more Derby history with three strong Epsom squad
Delacroix could deliver a 150th Group One winner for Ballydoyle trainer and Ryan Moore
Friday, 06 June 2025
Aidan O'Brien is the most successful trainer in the history of the Epsom Derby (Racing Post Images)
It's intense racing here, it's a test of temperament for everyone, horses, jockeys, trainers and spectators. As soon as you arrive in Epsom people everywhere are right on top of you - even riding to the start is intense, there is just nothing quite like it. - Aidan O'Brien on the Epsom Derby
Derby Day brings Rollers and double deckers, princes and plasterers, queens, both regal and Pearlie, to this verdant flash of tumbling Surrey countryside, writes James Toney in Epsom.
Aidan O'Brien too and, since this race was first run in 1780, no trainer has visited the winners' enclosure more.
O'Brien is a record ten wins and counting and fires Delacroix, The Lion in Winter and Lambourn at this year's renewal, as he seeks to win three on the spin for the second time in his career.
The last two renewals have seen him produce arguably the greatest training performances of his career, guiding Auguste Rodin and City of Troy to victory just weeks after they'd flopped as short-priced favourites in the 2000 Guineas.
In Epsom - where you need the perfect blend of speed, stamina and balance to tackle the undulating cambers of this most unique racetrack - O'Brien is the peerless Master.
He won last weekend's French Derby with Camille Pissarro and a win at Epsom would give him the chance to add another achievement to a sparkling résumé, potentially completing a first-ever sweep of the big European Classics at the 160th Irish Derby at the Curragh.
However, that would be getting ahead of ourselves, with Charlie Appleby's Ruling Court and Ralph Beckett's Pride of Arras also among the leading British contenders, while Joseph O'Brien takes his chance with long shot Tennessee Stud to complete the four-strong Green Team in the 19-runner field.
Delacroix appears the pick of the Coolmore contenders and the choice of top jockey Ryan Moore too but it's worth remembering O'Brien has won this race with outsiders. Eight years ago, he fired six runners at the prize and won with 40-1 shot Wings of Eagles, ridden by a disbelieving Padraig Beggy.
"Delocroix is a very straightforward and uncomplicated horse and Ryan will have a plan," said O'Brien. "His sister by Galileo [Grateful] got a mile and six [furlongs] well and as everybody knows he's by Dubawi. You never know until you do it, but we always thought there was a good chance that he would get the mile and a half."
However, The Lion In Winter – who will be ridden by Irish Champion Jockey Colin Keane - remains an intriguing prospect, following a brilliant win at York last season in which he categorically lowered the colours of 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court and briefly held favourites status for this race.
If you can forgive him his only run this season - a sixth-place finish in the Dante Stakes - then he'll be right in the mix, especially as O'Brien has strong recent form for turning around early season flops in the race that matters.
"We think he's made good progress since York, which we obviously thought he would," he added. "He was only just ready to start that day and you're probably better off in a trial knowing that you're going to come forward and everything goes wrong, rather than running in a trial when you think you're fit and everything goes right."
Back in the early 19th century, Robert Robson was known as the ‘Emperor of Trainers’, winning the race seven times for grandly-titled owners such as the Duke of Grafton, the best friend of William Pitt the Younger.
John Porter was the most successful trainer of the Victorian era, winning not just seven Derbys but three Triple Crowns. And then there was Fred Darling, who won his first Epsom showpiece in 1922 and his seventh 19 years later.
Sixty years then passed before Galileo soared into a different stratosphere to win O’Brien’s first Derby in memorable style and nine others have followed to put the quietly-spoken and fiercely driven Irish trainer into a league of his own.
“I suppose it all started with Galileo but I've got so many memories of great Derby winners,” said O’Brien.
“The thoroughbred breed is based on the Epsom Derby, it’s the ultimate test of the racehorse. It is physical and mental, they have to get the trip, they have to have pace, they have to act on the track.
"This race is just the ultimate test, it's a unique track that goes up, down, left and right, it just defines our sport and the atmosphere is like no where else. All these things add up and you need a very, very special horse to win it.
"It's intense racing here, it's a test of temperament for everyone, horses, jockeys, trainers and spectators. As soon as you arrive in Epsom people everywhere are right on top of you - even riding to the start is intense, there is just nothing quite like it."
Aidan O'Brien too and, since this race was first run in 1780, no trainer has visited the winners' enclosure more.
O'Brien is a record ten wins and counting and fires Delacroix, The Lion in Winter and Lambourn at this year's renewal, as he seeks to win three on the spin for the second time in his career.
The last two renewals have seen him produce arguably the greatest training performances of his career, guiding Auguste Rodin and City of Troy to victory just weeks after they'd flopped as short-priced favourites in the 2000 Guineas.
In Epsom - where you need the perfect blend of speed, stamina and balance to tackle the undulating cambers of this most unique racetrack - O'Brien is the peerless Master.
He won last weekend's French Derby with Camille Pissarro and a win at Epsom would give him the chance to add another achievement to a sparkling résumé, potentially completing a first-ever sweep of the big European Classics at the 160th Irish Derby at the Curragh.
However, that would be getting ahead of ourselves, with Charlie Appleby's Ruling Court and Ralph Beckett's Pride of Arras also among the leading British contenders, while Joseph O'Brien takes his chance with long shot Tennessee Stud to complete the four-strong Green Team in the 19-runner field.
Delacroix appears the pick of the Coolmore contenders and the choice of top jockey Ryan Moore too but it's worth remembering O'Brien has won this race with outsiders. Eight years ago, he fired six runners at the prize and won with 40-1 shot Wings of Eagles, ridden by a disbelieving Padraig Beggy.
"Delocroix is a very straightforward and uncomplicated horse and Ryan will have a plan," said O'Brien. "His sister by Galileo [Grateful] got a mile and six [furlongs] well and as everybody knows he's by Dubawi. You never know until you do it, but we always thought there was a good chance that he would get the mile and a half."
However, The Lion In Winter – who will be ridden by Irish Champion Jockey Colin Keane - remains an intriguing prospect, following a brilliant win at York last season in which he categorically lowered the colours of 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court and briefly held favourites status for this race.
If you can forgive him his only run this season - a sixth-place finish in the Dante Stakes - then he'll be right in the mix, especially as O'Brien has strong recent form for turning around early season flops in the race that matters.
"We think he's made good progress since York, which we obviously thought he would," he added. "He was only just ready to start that day and you're probably better off in a trial knowing that you're going to come forward and everything goes wrong, rather than running in a trial when you think you're fit and everything goes right."
Back in the early 19th century, Robert Robson was known as the ‘Emperor of Trainers’, winning the race seven times for grandly-titled owners such as the Duke of Grafton, the best friend of William Pitt the Younger.
John Porter was the most successful trainer of the Victorian era, winning not just seven Derbys but three Triple Crowns. And then there was Fred Darling, who won his first Epsom showpiece in 1922 and his seventh 19 years later.
Sixty years then passed before Galileo soared into a different stratosphere to win O’Brien’s first Derby in memorable style and nine others have followed to put the quietly-spoken and fiercely driven Irish trainer into a league of his own.
“I suppose it all started with Galileo but I've got so many memories of great Derby winners,” said O’Brien.
“The thoroughbred breed is based on the Epsom Derby, it’s the ultimate test of the racehorse. It is physical and mental, they have to get the trip, they have to have pace, they have to act on the track.
"This race is just the ultimate test, it's a unique track that goes up, down, left and right, it just defines our sport and the atmosphere is like no where else. All these things add up and you need a very, very special horse to win it.
"It's intense racing here, it's a test of temperament for everyone, horses, jockeys, trainers and spectators. As soon as you arrive in Epsom people everywhere are right on top of you - even riding to the start is intense, there is just nothing quite like it."