Epsom Derby winner Galileo romped home ahead of a top-class field at the Budweiser Irish Derby at the Curragh this afternoon. The Aidan O'Brien-trained horse cantered past his 11 rivals inside the final two furlongs to add the Irish Derby to his Epsom victory three weeks ago and displayed why bookies made him the 4/11 favourite for today's highlight at the County Kildare track. Italian Derby winner Morshdi, the mount of Philip Robinson, finished second at 20/1, four furlongs behind the winner, with the 4/1-shot Golan, the English 2000 Guineas winner ridden by Kieren Fallon, coming home third.
For Galileo's jockey Mick Kinane, it was his first time to win the race after 17 unsuccessful attempts. "He has that gear where everything is in his scope, he does it all effortlessly. We knew they were going to go today but he has so much speed and so much stamina," said the jockey admiringly about his mount. Galileo is now the 14th horse to complete the Irish and English Derby double.
It was a stunning performance from the new champion who looked dangerous from the moment the stalls opened. Pugin and Mr Combustible set the early pace but Galileo lay handy in fifth place and looked like he could take control at any time. When eventually Kinane decided to go for home at the two-furlong market the response was immediate, and the packed stands were brought to their feet as the Irish champion jockey edged his mount past the rest of the field and across the finish line with ease.
"It's nice to get it, I've been a long time waiting," said a delighted Kinane afterwards. "But sometimes we build these things up bigger than they should be. Galileo won the race, all I had to do was hold on and sit tight," he added with a smile.
What next for this wonderful champion? According to O'Brien, the long-term target is the Breeders' Cup Classic over 10 furlongs on dirt at Belmount Park, New York in October but where he will end up in the meantime is still being discussed.
Meanwhile, today's meeting at the Curragh was a day to remember for the O'Brien-Kinane partnership as Rock of Gibraltar made up for his disappointing performance at Royal Ascot with victory in the Anheuser Busch Railway Stakes. The 1/2 favourite took the race by two-lengths from stablemate Hawk Wing with Daneleta a half-lenghth back in third.
Bach rounded off a memorable day for O'Brien and Kinane when he took the Budweiser Celebration Stakes. Bach suffered a heavy defeat at his last outing at Royal Ascot but this time around he fired into the lead approaching the final furlong and held off the challenge of Maumee and Mastermind much to O'Brien's delight.
"We are lucky that Bach survived what happened to him in France last year. He broke his pelvis and bled into his lungs after the Prix Jean Prat and he has done well to get back racing at all," said O'Brien.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
