Christmas came early for Irish training maestro Aidan O’Brien when he celebrated winning his 50th British Classic with 7/1 shot Christmas Day in the Betfred Derby at Epsom Downs racecourse on Saturday (6 June).
Ridden by Ronan Whelan, the son of Camelot cruised to a commanding two-and-three-quarter-length victory over the William Haggas-trained Maltese Cross (Tom Marquand) to land the 247th running of the Epsom contest, worth £1m to the winner.
This historic Derby success came the day after Aidan’s son Joseph O’Brien saddled filly Thundering On to win the Betfred Oaks.
A 12th Epsom Derby success
“Christmas Day has done nothing but improve,” said Aidan O’Brien of his 12th Epsom Derby victor. “He’s so genuine, he stays and he handles the soft ground. Ronan gave him a beautiful ride. He’s a tough, hardy horse. This is unbelievable. But this is not just me – I’m just a small part of a very big team.”
Winning jockey Ronan Whelan, 33, in only his second season riding for the mighty Ballydoyle operation, described his first Derby success as “just so easy!”
“Aidan told me to keep it simple and the horse has done it easily – he loves the ground and it just felt effortless,” said Whelan, carrying the silks of Magnier, Tabor, Smith, Westerberg and Brant. “Running down the hill, Christmas Day had loads left – I wish I was as cool a customer as the horse because he took it all in his stride. He’s a credit to everyone who has had anything to do with him.”
Connections of the winner Christmas Day pose with their trophies and Britain’s King Charles III and Britain’s Queen Camilla at the presentation ceremony after the Derby on the second day of the Epsom Derby Festival.
Derby favourite declared a non-runner: “He was standing on three legs”
But this year’s Betfred Derby was action-packed from the start. Race favourite Benvenuto Cellini appeared to stumble out of the starting stalls, going on to complete the course but trailing home in ninth. It was then revealed that the Aidan O’Brien chestnut colt had ended up with a hind leg resting on the running board when the gates opened and a stewards’ enquiry involving Benvenuto Cellini’s jockey Ryan Moore was called. It was deemed that Benvenuto Cellini’s race had “been negatively affected” and on that basis he was declared a non-runner.
“Soon after the horse left the starting gate, we were notified that the favourite had his left hind leg on the running board just before the start, which resulted in him not being able to jump out on terms with the rest of the field,” said Shaun Parker, head of stewarding at the BHA.
“He was standing on three legs when the stalls opened.”
Further success for the O’Briens in Betfred Oaks
Aidan O’Brien’s son Joseph saddled the third horse home in the Derby, James J Braddock, just 24 hours after watching Frankel daughter Thundering On (Dylan Browne McMonagle) come home in front in the fillies’ Classic, the Betfred Oaks.
“Winning a big race like this is a dream and it’s special to share it with everyone,” said the winning trainer Joseph O’Brien, who also rode Derby winner Christmas Day’s sire Camelot to win the Epsom Classic for his father in 2012.
“Thundering On was a very impressive winner. To come to any Classic with a horse that has a legitimate chance is incredible.”
You can read the full report with exclusive insight from the Betfred Festival at Epsom in next week’s Horse & Hound magazine, in the shops Thursday 11 June.
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