James J Braddock Wins The Derby Trial For Ozzie Kheir

Springing a minor surprise in Sunday's G3 Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown, Aziz Kheir's James J Braddock (Zarak) swooped late to deny Pierre Bonnard (Camelot) for Joseph in the all-O'Brien affair.

Sent off at 9-1 for the 10-furlong prep, the Ballysax fifth was waited with by Dylan Browne McMonagle and delivered in the nick of time to oust Ballydoyle's long-time ante-post Derby favourite in the shade of the post for a short-head verdict. Pierre Bonnard's pacemaking stablemate Endorsement (Wootton Bassett) stuck to his task to be a neck away in third.

“He was tough and we thought he'd come on for his run the last day,” Joseph said. “We were worried about the fast ground, but you'd have to say he handled it well and was very comfortable. We were working towards the King Edward VII before today, but I suppose we now have to consider other options. We'll discuss it with Ozzie [Kheir], this is the first horse we've had for him. He has a lot of horses in Australia and this is going to be a horse who will hopefully turn up in the top international races through the course of his career.”

“The Derby does look an open race and I guess this guy is one of the contenders now, having won his trial,” he added. “We always thought he'd love going a mile and a half and if we did want to go there he's earned his spot, but we'll see how the next week goes and discuss it with Ozzie.”

Wow!

downs the Ballydoyle battalion in the Group Three Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial at Leopardstown pic.twitter.com/QQqhk4fLn0

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 10, 2026

Pedigree Notes
James J Braddock is the first foal out of Burkina Faso (Mukhadram), a half-sister to the G2 Premio Lydia Tesio and G3 Pride Stakes winner Angel Power (Lope De Vega) and the Listed scorer Flaming Stone (Kingman) who was placed in the G2 Prix Saint Alary and G3 Prix Vanteaux. From the family of the high-class half-siblings Borgia (Acatenango) and Boreal (Java Gold) which includes Lope De Vega's G3 Killavullan Stakes scorer and Irish 2,000 Guineas-placed Blue De Vega, her two-year-old filly Ouattara (Baaeed) was sold for 80,000gns to Julie Camacho at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale.