Latrobe ran out winner of the Gr1 Irish Derby at the Curragh on Saturday for brothers Joseph and Donnacha O’Brien.
O’Brien family celebrations (Pic – thanks to Amanda Carey)
Trained by Joseph and ridden by Donnacha – who are sons of Aidan O’Brien – the 14-1 chance was never far from the pace set by O’Brien senior’s Rostropovich.
The latter, owned by Markus Jooste in partnership with John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, looked like being swamped at the two-furlong pole, as Latrobe and favourite Saxon Warrior loomed large, but he refused to buckle and by a narrow margin Latrobe forced his head in front.
Saxon Warrior, winner of the 2000 Guineas and fourth in the Epsom Derby, had to settle for third as the even-money favourite.
It was a third Classic success of the season for Donnacha O’Brien, who rode Saxon Warrior for his father in the Guineas at Newmarket and also won the Oaks at Epsom on Forever Together.
The victory gave Joseph O’Brien his first as a trainer in a race he won twice as a jockey, aboard Camelot (2012) and Australia (2014).
Latrobe is a son of Camelot and races in the Lloyd Williams colours with which Joseph O’Brien won last year’s Melbourne Cup through Rewilding.
Interestingly, Latrobe’s 2yo full-sister was purchased by Magnier, Mayfair and Doyle (the connections of runner-up Rostropovich) for €380.000 at Goffs and is now named Pink Dogwood.
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