Camelot gave trainer Aidan O’Brien a clean sweep of British Classics so far this season when taking the Investec Derby by five lengths.
Ridden by O’Brien’s 19-year-old son Joseph, 8-13 favourite Camelot was towards the back of the field turning Tattenham Corner. But the son of Montjeu showed exceptional acceleration when powering to the front of the nine-runner field, and won with plenty in hand.
The O’Briens are the first father and son team to win the Derby.
“This is one of things you couldn’t even dream about, that you couldn’t even imagine could happen,” said Aidan.
Second was Main Sequence, trainer David Lanigan’s first runner in the race, a short-head in front of Aidan O’Brien’s second string Astrology. The John Gosden-trained Thought Worthy was fourth.
The well-fancied Bonfire could only finish sixth, and was reported by his jockey Jimmy Fortune not to have handled Epsom’s unique undulations at all well.
In adding the Investec Derby to his QIPCO 2000 Guineas success, Camelot could become the first colt since Nijinksy in 1970 to win the Triple Crown. The third element is the St Leger, over a mile and six furlongs, in September.
Part-owner Derrick Smith said: “[The Triple Crown] is very much in our mind and it is very much what people would want, but it’s not an easy decision and it’s too much pressure to make it now.”
“He’s got a lot of options,” said Aidan O’Brien.
This was Aidan’s third Investec Derby win, after Galileo in 2001 and High Chaparral in 2002.
