Aidan O'Brien

One way or another, plenty of people in our industry seem to think that it has reached a crossroads. But if a shutdown at the home of the Kentucky Derby makes us feel as though we can't get a break in the traffic, maybe we're just looking the wrong way. Because there's a chance that the real game-changing moment was happening 4,000 miles away, where the 244th running of the original Derby was last Saturday won by a horse excitingly equipped to open a new chapter in the story of...

Bouncing back from his disappointment in the 2000 Guineas, TDN Rising Star Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}--Rhododendron {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) conquered Epsom's undulations to carry off a ninth G1 Betfred Derby for Aidan O'Brien. Sent off at 9-2 as the punters dallied over this year's favourite, the G1 Futurity Trophy winner was kept back from the early action by Ryan Moore worse than mid-division. Launched wide as the 66-1 shot King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) cut loose approaching two out, the bay took until the last 100...

On December 3, 1995, the G1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle was won by the Aidan O'Brien-trained Thats My Man (Ire). It is unconfirmed, but those may well have been the words uttered by John Magnier when he decided to appoint O'Brien to uphold the good reputation of his surname at Ballydoyle. This he has done with aplomb. From that December day at Fairyhouse until Sunday at the Curragh, A P O'Brien has been the name printed alongside 400 Group or Grade 1 winners. From his roots in National Hunt, he...

His name conjures a sense of suspense, so when Drumroll (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was denied a short head by Teutates (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) after a pulsating tussle for Sunday's G3 Heider Family Stables Gallinule S. at The Curragh, it was only right that the drama would play out further as an inquiry was announced. Once the head-on had revealed the extent of the interference caused by the first-past-the-post to Ballydoyle's full-brother to Saxon Warrior (Jpn), the writing was on the wall and the result was duly amended in his...

Sunday's G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup lived up to the billing and then some, with Ballydoyle's Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) making all and outbattling Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}) in a stirring finish to The Curragh's joint-feature of the day. Having put in one of those on-the-face-of-it underwhelming comeback performances that the stable's kingpins can when fifth in the G2 Mooresbridge S. here at the start of the month, last year's G1 Irish Champion S. hero took the requisite leap forward with Ryan Moore intent on taking no prisoners. Relishing...

When it comes to the maidens at The Curragh's Irish Guineas weekend, it has become essential to follow Aidan O'Brien's chosen runners with the following year's Classics in mind and Sunday's Tally Ho Stud Irish EBF Fillies Maiden produced a winner in Matrika (Ire) (No Nay Never--Muravka {Ire}, by High Chaparral {Ire}) who very much gave that vibe. Following the TDN Rising Star label handed to the yard's Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) on Saturday, the same honour is bestowed on this debutante who went two places better in the...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's Insights features the return of TDN Rising Stars Ramatuelle (Justify) and Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in a Saint-Cloud conditions event. 13.58 Saint-Cloud, Cond, €34,000, 2yo, 6fT Christopher Head trainee RAMATUELLE (Justify) created a deep impression first time out when powering home by 4 1/2 lengths over...

Saturday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh was one for Ballydoyle, as TDN Rising Star Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) provided his stable with compensation for their Newmarket disappointment three weeks earlier. Prepared for this Classic "old-school style" via the Madrid H. and Listed Tetrarch S., the dark horse of the Rosegreen 3-year-old crop attracted support into 3-1 second favouritism and enjoyed a tow from fellow TDN Rising Star Hi Royal (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) throughout the early stages. Putting the pressure on that 2000 Guineas runner-up three out, the...

Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Westerberg's Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never--Adventure Seeker {Fr}, by Bering {GB}) overraced and encountered a rough journey when well back in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas at the beginning of the month, but on livelier ground over Haydock's straight course, the even-money favourite ran out an open-length winner of the one-mile G2 Betfred Nifty Fifty Sandy Lane S. on Saturday. Always forwardly placed against the fence as last year's G2 Coventry S. hero and G3 Commonwealth Cup Trial S. third...

Team Ballydoyle got off to a perfect start on Irish 2000 Guineas day when the once-raced Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Strawberry Lace {GB}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) powered clear of his five rivals in Saturday's Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden at the Curragh for a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette. The July 2 G2 Railway S. entry lined up as the 4-6 favourite coming back off a promising debut third in this month's Listed First Flier S. and broke sharply to seize an immediate lead upped to six furlongs...

Last year's G3 Prix de Cabourg victor The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Anna Law {Ire}, by Lawman {Fr}) opened this term with a third in Navan's Listed Committed S. and led from pillar to post in Sunday's G3 Goffs Lacken S. at Naas. His eight-race juvenile campaign included three encounters with Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never), hitting the board behind that now-retired former stablemate in the G2 Prix Robert Papin, G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park. The Antarctic broke sharply and led along the far-side rail from flagfall. In...

She may not necessarily be Oaks-bound, but Ballydoyle's Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) could be a major player at Royal Ascot nonetheless after beating TDN Rising Star Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) in Newbury's Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies' Trial S. on Saturday. Showing battling qualities when off the mark over this 10-furlong trip at Leopardstown 13 days previously, the daughter of the triple group 1 winner Sea Siren (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) raced in a share of second early. Sent forward by Ryan Moore two out, the 5-2 second favourite...