Broome makes it a clean sweep for O’Brien army
BROOME led home a 1-2-3 for Aidan O’Brien in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown yesterday as the Investec Derby build-up continued to be dominated by the trainer’s County Tipperary stable. Bookmakers make Broome 6-1 joint third favourite after a two-and-and-half length win from Blenheim Palace, with Sovereign a further half-length back in third. Broome’s success follows the Derby Classic trial wins for O’Brien with Sir Dragonet (Chester Vase), Circus Maximus (Dee Stakes) and Anthony Van Dyck (Lingfield Derby Trial) as well as his victory in the 2,000 Guineas with Magna Grecia, who will sidestep Epsom. Andrew Balding’s Sandown Trial winner Bangkok looks a useful Derby candidate but the race desperately needs either John Gosden’s Too Darn Hot or Charlie Appleby’s Line of Duty to lay down a marker in the Dante Stakes at York on Thursday. There is no evidence punters are put off betting on the Derby by the O’Brien domination but Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield conceded:
‘We desperately need a good British winner of the Dante to spice up the build-up.’ O’Brien is a 1-2 shot to win the race for a record-equalling seventh time and Broome will be trying to do it off the same preparation as O’Brien gave his first to winners — Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002) — who both won the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial having previously landed the Ballysax Stakes. O’Brien suggested Broome’s slightly laboured effort with Donnacha O’Brien on board was down to laziness rather than a lack of speed. He said: ‘He has a lot more speed than you think. You’d hope he’ll get a mile and a half but you wouldn’t be sure.’ The one Classic colt who can mix it with the O’Brien army is Andre Fabre’s Persian King, who will remain in France for the time being after victory in the French 2,000 Guineas. It was a seventh win in the race for Fabre, who said a tilt at the French Derby would be Persian King’s next assignment. Castle Lady won the 1,000 Guineas to give Godolphin a big-race double in France.