Budweiser Irish Derby: 1-2-3 for Aidan O’Brien
Aidan O’Brien trained his fifth winner of the Budweiser Irish Derby in 10 years yesterday when Soldier Of Fortune relished the muddy ground at The Curragh to win by nine lengths.
O’Brien also trained the second and third home — Alexander Of Hales and the 6-4 favourite Eagle Mountain — his second 1-2-3 in two weeks, after the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Ridden by Ballydoyle stalwart Seamus Heffernan, for whom this was a first win in Ireland’s most important flat race, Soldier Of Fortune grabbed the lead two furlongs from home and accelerated away from his rivals in impressive fashion.
The son of Galileo, who won the Irish Derby in 2001 for the same connections, won the Chester Vase before finishing fifth behind Authorized in the Epsom Derby. Options on the agenda for the colt include the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October.
Don’t miss Horse & Hound’s full report on all the action from The Curragh, in this Thursday’s magazine (5 July, ’07)
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
A St Andrews’ graduate, Catherine joined Horse & Hound in 2002 and stayed for 11 years in a variety of roles until she went freelance in June 2013. She rejoined the team part-time in November 2016 as hunting editor. She pretty much lives on the hunting field or at the racecourse, but also loves eventing, as a journalist, press officer and competitor. She was H&H’s sole accredited journalist at the London Olympic Games and has reported from major race meetings and eventing, showjumping and dressage championships and shows round the world, and has hunted all over Britain and Ireland.