The Investec Derby, the race everybody wants to win

5 June 2014

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With four Epsom Derby victories to his name, top Irish trainer – Aidan O’Brien – reveals the equine attributes needed to win horseracing’s ultimate test. 

Saturday’s Investec Derby – the UK’s richest race – run over one mile four furlongs and 10 yards with a jackpot in excess of £1.3million is broadcast live on Channel 4.  Aidan saddles market-leader, Australia, and will attempt to secure his third consecutive victory following successes with Camelot in 2012 and Ruler of the World in 2013.

The following transcript is available free for reproduction in full or in part, and will run as a two-part feature on Channel 4 Racing: Investec Derby this Friday, June 6th and Saturday, June 7th.

This weekend, you will saddle runners in your 17th consecutive Epsom Derby.  What is it about the race that you covet so much?

It’s everything about the Derby; it’s the ultimate test of the thoroughbred.  It’s what everybody that breeds a horse dreams that it could turn up in the Derby.  It’s the ultimate test – you have to have speed, stamina, agility and temperament – it takes it all to win the Investec Derby.

All of those attribute you mentioned where certainly characterised by one horse, Galileo, back in 2001.  He was your first winner.  What do you remember about that day?

It was a very special day, he was a very special horse obviously and he’s proved it more and more as every season went by since.  It was a very special day, obviously a nervous day for everybody.  It was our first chance of winning the Derby, first big chance, and obviously he performed.  It was a great day really.

Since Galileo you’ve saddled 50 runners in 13 years in the Epsom Derby – why is that?  Why so many?

It’s the race that everybody wants to win.  We believe if a horse comes through its trials, then they deserve to take their chance (in the Derby).  It’s a dream for everybody.

Lester Piggott says: the horse that usually wins the Epsom Derby is the horse that has improved most in May.  Is that a theory that you buy into?

I’m not sure but I suppose, obviously the best horse usually wins the Derby and every horse has to improve going into every big race.  They have to be in a good place and getting better really.

Throughout winter, how do you decide at what point this is an Epsom horse or a Curragh horse or a Royal Ascot horse?  What sort of tests do you put them through to find that out?
Epsom horses are running in the trials and everybody sees it as well as we do, so everybody is learning together.  And, if they’re not up to their trials or if they’re too green in their trials, then there’s no point going to Epsom like some of our horses have been.  Last week, some of them (horses) ran well and some of them won.  Some of them ran well but didn’t win, so those horses probably won’t go to Epsom.  But the horse / horses that come through their trials right and have done everything right will be let to take their chance.

You’ve won four Epsom Derby’s 2001 and 2002 with a 10 year gap till Camelot won again in 2012.  Did you have to readjust what you were doing with them at that point as there were a lot of near misses?

Yes, there was.  We didn’t readjust much; I suppose we had different types of horses then.  Obviously Camelot was an unbelievably special horse and them we were very lucky this year that Australia came – he’s a very special horse as well.  But, there’s very few horses I suppose that you think could win an Epsom Derby and would have the class to run in the Guineas.

When you’re preparing a horse for the Derby how much of the work can you do and how much is down to how the horse deals with and eventually get to the track?

We can do plenty of the work but the horse’s mentality does kick in.  That’s where I suppose what’s in there really comes out.  You can train so much into a horse, that (mentality) you can’t – that’s genetic.  And they have to be able to deal with that themselves mentally.  Obviously, you can be preparing them and doing your best to have them as good as shape and their back is to the wall and they’re getting nervous and anxious – whatever is in there will come out. So, that’s what makes it the ultimate test really.

For you is it the race in the calendar you most like to win and set out to win each season?

I think so, yes.  There’s no doubt that it’s the race that if you said to everybody in this part of the world, possibly any part of the world, what race would you most like to win – it would be the Epsom Derby.

When you’ve taken a horse (Australia) throughout the winter, trained him for the Guineas.  How do you turn him around so quickly within a month to get him ready for the Epsom Derby?

I suppose, listen Australia is a very relaxed, easy going horse.  He’s very adaptable trip wise, he’s not easily revved up or anything else.  He takes everything within his stride.  He’s a very good natured and relaxed horse.  He doesn’t pull – usually he cruises and is a very obedient horse.

He’s quite a naturally fit horse?

Yes, he’s very natural and doesn’t take much work.  He’s a very clear winded, good moving horse.

Looking back at the Guineas Australia ran a huge race given the circumstances, the fact he was on the near side and the winner and the eventual second came from the far side.  Have you looked back and thought that was perhaps a better race than people have given it credit for?

Ah listen, that would be our opinion anyway.  Obviously that’s our own opinion and everybody is entitled to their opinions but we were over the moon with it, over the moor with the run.  The only other thing he could have been in front at the line but we don’t think that was his fault.  We think he gave everything and did everything that we asked of him and we have to be happy and very grateful for that.

If they had come down the middle as a whole group, do you think you would have won the Guineas?

Listen, I would never say that because I would never want to take away from the winner of the second but it would have suited us if the races pace was on, leading us rather than Joseph having to commit to kind of just after half way and sending himself down into the dip, but that would be our opinion.  But listen that wasn’t the way it was meant to be.

Looking at Australia’s breeding, that obviously has been on of the main talking points this season – By Galileo, out of Ouija Board – two Epsom classic winners.  It should point that Epsom would be perfect for him – is it as easy as that?

No, I don’t think it is but you hope that would.  Nothing has suggested otherwise yet but it never is really.  He has all the things that we think he should have and he seems to have the class which he showed in the Guineas.  So listen, it’s probably a little bit of ah – it’s the worrying thing about it – you’re so afraid to think because everything looks to be perfect, but hopefully.  Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t but we’ll find out.  There’s not one other thing about him that shows us that suggests otherwise yet.

You come across as very calm on the surface Aiden – has there been a horse at Ballydoyle that has excited you as much as Australia?

Probably not.

You think he’s that good?

We think he’s unique but obviously we’ll see but we think he is.

At this stage, have you had a better chance of an Epsom Derby winner than this year?

Probably not at this stake but like you never know.

The Investec Derby Festival live on Channel 4:

June 6th               Channel 4 Racing featuring the Oaks from Epsom       1:10 – 4:25pm

June 7th               The Morning Line                                                                      8 – 9am

                                Derby Day: Channel 4 Racing                                              1:00 – 4:30pm