Santiago leads O’Brien’s Irish Derby quest

ROYAL Ascot winner Santiago heads Aidan O’Brien’s quest for a 14th success in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh this afternoon.

The Authorized colt finished second on his first two starts as a juvenile before getting off the mark at short odds in a maiden at Listowel in September.

Ridden by Ryan Moore at the Royal meeting, O’Brien’s charge was a ready winner but is down in trip and up in class this weekend.

“He seems to be in good form since Ascot. He obviously hasn’t done much,” said O’Brien, who sprang a 33-1 surprise last year with Sovereign.

“He’s a horse we always thought would stay and that’s why he went to the race in Ascot. It will be interesting coming back to a mile and a half as well.”

Seamie Heffernan takes over from Moore, with Santiago one of six runners for Ballydoyle.

Among them is Arthur’s Kingdom, who is aided by first-time cheekpieces having finished second in the King Edward VII Stakes at Ascot.

Iberia, Dawn Patrol, Tiger Moth and Order Of Australia complete the O’Brien team.

Regarding the unusual circumstances of the race this year, coming before Epsom for the first time, O’Brien said: “It’s the first time all these horses have been over a mile and a half, it’s the fairest mile and a half in the world. Horses are going to come from out of the clouds in this race.

“Nobody is going to know what’s what until after this race. It’s so exciting, it’s incredible, really.”

Joseph O’Brien takes on his father with the unbeaten Crossfirehurricane, Galileo Chrome and the filly New York Girl.

It is Crossfirehurricane, ridden by Shane Crosse, who appears his best chance.

“Throughout his whole career he’s been progressive, with each run he’s taken a big step up with a career-best last time out over 10 furlongs. He earned his spot by winning the Gallinule,” said O’Brien.

Jessica Harrington will attempt to be the first female to train the Derby winner as she saddles Gold Maze.

“He’s a horse with very low mileage. He’s actually still a maiden,” she said.

“He was third in the Beresford last year and on his first run this year he was just pipped on the post by Crossfirehurricane.”

This year’s race is notable for several trainers having their first runners in the race – Donnacha O’Brien with Sherpa, Emmet Mullins with King Of Thrones, who will be ridden by Rachael Blackmore, Ger Lyons with Chiricahua and Andrew Slattery with Sunchart, who was second to Santiago at Listowel.

The field is completed by Jim Bolger’s Fiscal Rules, a running-on fifth in the Irish Guineas on just his second career start.