Australia New Ante-post Investec Derby Favourite

On the day that Aussie voters chose themselves a new prime minister, it could hardly have been more appropriate that the Aidan O’Brien-trained colt, Australia, put up a sparkling performance to win the Group 3 ICON Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Trial Stakes at a soggy Leopardstown and advanced to ante-post favouritism for next year’s Epsom Derby.

The regally bred two-year-old is by the world’s most successful sire, Galileo, out of the great Ed Dunlop-trained racemare Ouija Board, who prior to Australia producing the goods had proved something of a disappointment as a broodmare.

Dermot Weld’s Free Eagle had been all the rage in the betting prior to the Leopardstown contest on the back of a tremendously impressive debut success, but he simply had no answer from the furlong marker as Joseph O’Brien swept by on Australia to score in very impressive fashion, eventually running out a six-length winner.

The reaction from the racing live bets to the success of the O’Brien-trained colt was swift, cutting Australia to just 10/1 for next year’s Qipco 2000 Guineas, while – given his pedigree – it came as little surprise to see the rising star installed a top-priced 8/1 ante-post favourite to land the 2014 Investec Derby at Epsom on the first Saturday next June.

O’Brien was unusually forthcoming in his post-race comments, observing, “You have to be delighted with that. We always thought the world of him. He could be a Dewhurst type or anything. He has some pace and he really turned it on. If he doesn’t run again, we will train him for the Classics next year.”

Australia had shown on his previous start at the Curragh when breaking his maiden tag that he was a horse of some potential, but few could have anticipated a performance quite as taking as his Leopardstown romp.