Aidan O'Brien inched closer to his own Group One record, as both Puerto Rico and Pierre Bonnard enhanced their Classic claims when starring in a big-race double at Saint-Cloud.
O’Brien registered a record 28 top-level victories in 2017 and less than 24 hours after Hawk Mountain gave him a 23rd top-level success for 2025 at Doncaster, he took his tally to 25 in France.
Puerto Rico had waited until Doncaster’s Champagne Stakes to open his account but has been unstoppable since and shot to the top of the betting for next year’s 2000 Guineas with a brilliant all-the-way victory in the Criterium International.
Supplemented into the race earlier this week, there was barely a moment of worry for Christophe Soumillon in the saddle, as he scurried to a cosy length and three-quarters success over Jean-Claude Rouget’s Campacite to follow up his Group One triumph in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day.
O’Brien said: "He’s a lovely horse and is very happy in front. He’s always happy to get a lead but he’s an unusual horse as he has a lot of speed but he stays as well.
"We wanted to see how comfortable he would be over a mile today and Christophe was happy to take a lead if someone else was going to go, but obviously nobody did so he was happy to go on.
"He’s a very classy horse and obviously very good. I think he’s a Guineas horse first then probably a Derby horse.
"He’s uncomplicated, relaxed, quickens and has lots of speed and goes on the ground. He would also be happy on fast ground as we were thinking of taking him to the Breeders’ Cup, so he is obviously a very good horse."
Puerto Rico is Coral’s new 8-1 favourite for next year’s 2000 Guineas, while Paddy Power also trimmed him for the Derby, making him 14-1 from 16s.
However, Pierre Bonnard returns to Ballydoyle as Paddy Power’s 7-1 favourite for Epsom next June having followed in the footsteps of stablemate and 2023 scorer Los Angeles by winning the Criterium de Saint-Cloud.
O'Brien also spoke of his delight – not to mention relief – after being crowned champion Flat trainer in Britain for an eighth time.
The 56-year-old, who has been champion every year in Ireland since 1999, ultimately fended off the challenges of Andrew Balding and John and Thady Gosden comfortably.
All three yards were successful on Champions Day at Ascot and while the championship runs from 1 January to 31 December, O’Brien’s haul was enough to ensure he cannot be caught.
"I’m delighted to be announced as the champion trainer for 2025, it’s a real honour and testament to the hard work of the whole team who makes this sport happen, from the owners, the staff at Ballydoyle stables, the breeders and of course, the horses themselves – it’s a real team effort and victory," said the Ballydoyle handler, who picked up his trophy at Doncaster on Saturday.
"A lot of people work a lot harder than me and I’m just so delighted for them all."
O’Brien won the Derby with Lambourn, stablemates Minnie Hauk and Whirl fought out the finish to the Oaks, while Scandinavia was a game winner of the St Leger.
Proving how much of a team effort it was, all three Classic victories came for different jockeys, with Wayne Lordan on Lambourn, Ryan Moore on Minnie Hauk and Tom Marquand on Scandinavia.
With Moore currently sidelined through injury, O’Brien has called on Christophe Soumillon to great effect on the big days, too.
"It’s difficult to pinpoint my absolute favourite moment but a few standout moments would have to be Lambourn winning the Betfred Derby in June – it’s difficult to ever look beyond the Derby – and Scandinavia’s successive wins in the Bahrain Trophy, Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup and Betfred St Leger," O’Brien told Great British Racing.
"Every year the emotions remain the same and it’s a constant cycle of anticipation, relief and celebration on repeat.
"I forget about yesterday and look forward to tomorrow, there’s always a plan but I don’t think too far ahead because you get too anxious if you do."
