Los Angeles turns the tables in thrilling Irish Derby
A record-extending 16th Irish Derby win for Aidan O'Brien
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Los Angeles crosses the line in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby
Los Angeles turned the tables on Ambiente Friendly to land a record-extending 16th Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby for Aidan O’Brien.
The Ballydoyle contender had finished three-and-a-quarter lengths behind the pre-race favourite at Epsom but held firm under a masterful ride from Ryan Moore to land the Curragh’s Sunday showpiece.
Los Angeles has now been installed as the favourite for the St Leger and O’Brien said: "We think he'll get better.
“He's a big hardy horse. He looks like he is a baby but he was a Group 1 winner at two as well and he keeps progressing. We are really looking forward to him.
"Ryan said that they went hard and that he ended up getting there a little bit earlier than he wanted. He was very impressed with him and I think Ryan was a bit surprised with the class that he showed.
"We thought coming here that he was a horse who was going to get a mile and a half and turn into a Leger horse, but listening to Ryan he's a very classy horse too. That leaves a lot of options."
Elsewhere on Sunday, O’Brien enjoyed victory in the Group 2 GAIN Railway Stakes as 8/1 outsider Henri Matisse upset the field under Wayne Lordan.
“He’s always worked really well at home, he’s very kind natured,” Lordan said.
“He does his work the way you want him to do it but if you want more, you have to ask for it. When I asked him today, he found plenty and he won well at the line.
“I knew the last furlong would be his strongest.”
Amazon Lady won an intriguing Rockingham Handicap, Billy Lee’s 22/1 shot all alone on the far side of the track and streaking clear of the bunched field on the opposite rail.
Gary Carroll steered home Lord Massusus for Joseph Murphy in the Colm McLoughlin Celebration Stakes (Listed Race) while Wesley Joyce was on board for Indigo Five’s Summer Fillies Handicap victory.
Colin Keane and Ger Lyons teamed up to win the six-furlong Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Dash Stakes with My Mate Alfie while 12/1 shot Booyea landed the Derby Festival Handicap.
The opener, the Paddy Power "From The Horse's Mouth Podcast" Handicap, went the way of the 2/1 favourite Sharinay, who triumphed under Ronan Whelan for Michael Halford and Tracey Collins.
And Ado McGuinness closed out the Derby Festival weekend with a winner as Star Harbour came home quickest in the Irish EBF Ragusa Handicap.