Christmas Day came early at Epsom as Aidan O'Brien's three-year-old colt, Christmas Day (7-1), stormed to victory in the Betfred Derby on Saturday, securing the trainer's record-extending 12th win in the Classic and his 50th British Classic success. The win came on a dramatic afternoon that saw the favourite Benvenuto Cellini declared a non-runner after being denied a fair start.
A Dramatic Derby Day
The previous day had seen O'Brien's son Joseph step out of his father's shadow to win the Betfred Oaks with Thundering On. However, normal service resumed in the Derby as Christmas Day, ridden by Ronan Whelan, powered home in the Colts' Classic. This marked O'Brien's fourth consecutive Derby win, following victories by Auguste Rodin, City Of Troy, and Lambourn in recent years.
Christmas Day, a son of the stable's 2012 Derby hero Camelot, was not the first choice despite going off at 7-1, having been 25-1 in the morning. The stable's main hope was Benvenuto Cellini (3-1 favourite), ridden by Ryan Moore after his victory in the Boodles Chester Vase Stakes at the Chester May Festival. However, the Frankel colt was withdrawn from the race despite running and finishing 10th of 14. After a slow start from the stalls, he was never a factor under Moore. The stewards announced an inquiry, and video footage showed Benvenuto Cellini had a hind leg on the inside shelf of the starting stall when the gates opened. It was adjudged he had been denied a fair start and was declared a non-runner.
Christmas Day's Triumph
Christmas Day, who had been third in the Dante Stakes at York last month, had no such issues and was always prominent under Whelan, who became the seventh jockey to ride an O'Brien-trained Derby winner at Epsom. Sixty-two years after Santa Claus won the world's most famous Flat race, Christmas Day triumphed by two-and-three-quarters-of-a-length from the William Haggas-trained Maltese Cross (12-1), under Tom Marquand. James J Braddock (9-1) – for the Joseph O'Brien and jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle Oaks-winning combination – was two-and-a-half lengths back in third, with Bay Of Brilliance (9-1) fourth.
With wet and windy weather conditions on the Downs, Coolmore supremo John Magnier – who rang O'Brien in the middle of the post-race press conference – felt the winner was apt. O'Brien said: "The boss just said it feels like Christmas. When he ran in the Dante we thought he'd run well, but also that he'd improve for it. Ryan (Moore) rode him there and it turned into a bit of a sprint. We thought it would be a true race today and that he'd stay a mile and a half and he went through the line very strong."
O'Brien added: "He's always been a very good-looking horse, but an unassuming, uncomplicated one. It isn't always the obvious horse – I suppose that's what makes it exciting. To win one Classic is so difficult, let alone 50. I'm so delighted to win big races for John and Sue (Magnier) and Michael and Doreen (Tabor) and Derrick and Sarah (Smith), because they put so much into it and that's what allows it to happen. He's the first Camelot Derby winner, he's an unbelievable stallion. They stay, they're tough, they have everything. I'm so delighted for everybody."
Whelan's Dream Ride
Whelan, winning his first Derby, was the latest to benefit from an association with O'Brien, having joined the Ballydoyle stable two years ago. O'Brien said: "When Ronan started riding out for us a couple of years ago we were delighted as he's a grand fella. He's been with us more days this year than last and is getting more rides and he rode two Group One winners last year. He's a very good rider, very experienced, a strong rider and a lovely fella to deal with."
On this being his 50th British Classic winner, O'Brien said: "It's not me, it's everybody else. Everybody knows I'm a very small part of a big team, with Coolmore, Ballydoyle and all the farms around, and all the people who do all the different jobs. There are so many people I don't mention, the people in the offices and the people on the ground in Ballydoyle, Coolmore and everywhere. I'm so delighted for everybody really."
Future Plans
Christmas Day is likely to head to the Curragh for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on June 28, aiming to become the seventh O'Brien-trained Epsom hero to double up, just like his sire Camelot in 2012 and Lambourn 12 months ago. He is now Skybet's 3-1 favourite to complete the double, but Benvenuto Cellini is also likely to line up and is 4-1 to deny his stable-mate. On Benvenuto Cellini, O'Brien added: "Benvenuto Cellini jumped out of the stalls on three legs and the other one got caught up – it happens, that's racing, there'll be another day with him."
Whelan, 33, was grabbing a third Group One win for O'Brien in less than 12 months, having landed the Futurity Trophy with Hawk Mountain and the Fillies' Mile on Precise last season. He said: "I just can't quite believe it, I'm sat here next to Aidan O'Brien having just won the Derby! The plan was to go forward and I was happy enough beside Wayne (Lordan, on Action) and after the four-furlong pole I could see him moving and my lad started coming alive, after that I knew I was going to run a big race."
"When we straightened up I gave him a squeeze from the two to the one I was thinking 'I've won the Derby!' When you ride for Aidan he takes all the pressure off and if you get beat he just says there'll always be another day. To be riding here for these connections in this atmosphere, it is the stuff of dreams and it hasn't really sunk in to be honest – I'm just a bit stunned."
"It's just very surreal. It all went too easy and felt so smooth. I knew when the rain came my lad would love it, and the stars aligned for me, really."
Reaction from Rivals
On runner-up Maltese Cross, jockey Marquand said: "Everything went perfect for us. He was feeling fantastic and he took the first two-thirds of the race great. It all went smooth and I thought my scrap was going to be similar to Lingfield with the Beckett horse (eventual fourth Bay Of Brilliance), but he just fell off a little bit earlier than ideal to take us towards Christmas Day, but the winner was very good. He bowled away up the middle and made it too hard for us to catch him. Our lad has run fantastic and George (Waud, owner) and the team are thrilled."
Kevin Blake, part owner of third-placed James J Braddock, added: "He ran a stormer and we are very, very proud of him. He showed some immaturity in the prelims and he did that before the Ballysax but he was much better last time. But this is the ultimate test of the thoroughbred and the prelims are part of it. It's something that can be fixed. I need to watch it again but it seemed a really attritional Derby and he hit the line well. It's only the fifth run of his life."
"The last 24 hours have been horrendous but they've been brilliant. To be honest when he started to behave as he did your shoulders do drop a little bit, so it was quiet waiting for the race to happen, but the horse has acquitted himself so well we are so proud of him. For a horse like him to end up here and be placed in a Derby – we've all got such a kick out of it. It's the greatest race in the world."
