Australia confirmed the high regard in which he has long been held by his trainer Aidan O’Brien with an impressive victory over Kingston Hill in the Investec Derby.
The colt became O’Brien’s third successive winner of Epsom’s Blue Riband and his fifth in total, the tally of winners beginning with Australia’s sire Galileo in 2001. It was also the second win in the race for O’Brien’s son Joseph, who ride Camelot to victory in 2012 while last year’s winner Ruler Of The World was partnered by Ryan Moore.
“It’s a privilege to have such good horses to train year after year. When we have Galileos bred the way they are then anything is possible,” said the trainer, who is just one victory away from matching the illustrious Derby record of his predecessor at Ballydoyle, Vincent O’Brien.
“We always thought this horse was special from the very first day he worked. What made him very unusual was that he had a lot of speed for a horse bred to get a mile and a half. His work was excellent and even coming into today we couldn’t be sure, after his run in the Guineas, that he’d stay.”
The other special element to Australia is the fact that he is not only by a Derby winner but out of an Oaks winner, the great Ouija Board, who was bred by and raced for Lord Derby. Australia, who was also raised at Stanley House Stud in Newmarket before being sold as a yearling for 525,000gns, is the mare’s fourth foal.
“It’s a fantastic thing for the Stanley family, and particularly my brother, Peter, who bred Ouija Board and manages the stud,” said Lord Derby, whose ancestor, the 12th Earl of Derby, gave his name to the great race in 1780.
“To have bred an Oaks winner and now a Derby winner and to be here with all the family is absolutely amazing.
“You cannot take away a first Classic win as an owner/breeder, which is what Ouija Board achieved for us – that was amazing to see my colours win at this racecourse – but if it cannot be in my colours the only way to go higher was to breed the Derby winner.”
Adding that the family may now keep Ouija Board’s current yearling, a colt by Dubawi, he said: “The reality is that most great racemares don’t go on to be great broodmares, although their grandchildren may do it. Miesque and Urban Sea broke that trend, and maybe Ouija Board is on her way to joining them. I cannot tell you how lucky and proud I feel to think we have done this.
“Ouija Board did not have a foal this year, but she is now carrying to Galileo.”
Australia races in the familiar purple and white silks belonging to Derrick Smith, who regularly owns horses in partnership with Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor, but there is a new name in the syndicate for Australia, that of Teo Ah Khing, founder of China Horse Club.
He said: “This is the first time there has been any Chinese representation in the Derby and today’s victory is wonderful for both Coolmore and the China Horse Club.
“This win will make sure a lot of Chinese and Asian interests will pay special attention to this famous race. My heart was beating very fast as the horses came down the straight. Now we all hope he continues to become a great racehorse, and one day a great stallion.
“This is my first time at Epsom, and the atmosphere is electric. It’s very different and there’s a charm to that. It’s fantastic – now I look forward to visiting Royal Ascot.”
