Kingston Hill, right, will try and turn the tables on Epsom Derby conqueror Australia, left, at The Curragh on Saturday. Photograph: Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images
Saturday, 27 June 2014 sees the eagerly anticipated rematch between Investec Derby one-two Australia and Kingston Hill in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh.
AIDAN O’BRIEN’S name is written like no other across the history of the Dubai Duty Free 2014 Irish Derby, having landed a record ten victories, and Australia is hot favourite to make it a football team’s worth of winners for the master of Ballydoyle.
O’Brien has spoken in glowing terms about Australia ever since the colt’s impressive Group 3 win at Leopardstown in September, and the son of Galileo went a long way towards justifying his huge reputation when winning the Derby at Epsom three weeks ago.
Last year O’Brien’s bid for an eighth consecutive win in today’s Classic failed when third-placed Festive Cheer was the closest of his two runners, but Australia will be long odds-on to become the 17th horse to complete the Epsom-Curragh double back at the track where his career began with an unlucky defeat a year ago.
Australia provided O’Brien with a fifth Derby success and the trainer has run all his previous winners of the Epsom Classic in the Irish equivalent, with only Ruler Of The World 12 months failing to complete the double.
O’Brien said: “Good to firm or good ground will be fine for Australia. We just don’t want a lot of rain to make it in any way soft. Obviously he hasn’t done a lot since Epsom, but he doesn’t take much work. We’re happy with him.”
Kingston Hill conditioner, Roger Varian
O’Brien saddles over half of the Classic field as Australia is joined by Geoffrey Chaucer, Kingfisher and Orchestra, while Kingston Hill, Fascinating Rock and Ponfeigh complete the line-up.
5mm of rain fell at the track on Thursday night, but the ground has remained good to firm. The track’s general manager Paul Hensey tweeted on Saturday morning: “The ground @curraghrace remains good to firm. Both courses watered overnight. Forecast dry.”
The news will be disappointing for Kingston Hill conditioner, Roger Varian, who was hoping for softer going for his charge. “The worry from reports I’m getting is that is still pretty quick and that is a concern and I’m not going to run him on ground I am not happy with. It doesn’t need to be soft for him to run – decent good ground will be fine for him.”
The field of 7 will face the starter at 18:30 South African time.
(source: Racing Post)
2014 Irish Derby Field
