Broome stars in Derrinstown clean sweep as O'Brien dominance continues

Aidan O'Brien's domination of the Investec Derby trials continued on Sunday when Broome saw off two stablemates to land Leopardstown's Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial by two and a half lengths.

It was O'Brien's 12th victory in the 1m2f event and followed on his wins with Cape Of Good Hope at Epsom last month, Sir Dragonet and Circus Maximus at Chester during the week and Anthony Van Dyck at Lingfield on Saturday.

Japan will attempt to keep the Ballydoyle monopoly going in the Dante Stakes at York on Thursday. "The plan is to send Japan to York once we are happy with him over the next few days. Our two Chester trial winner and Anthony Van Dyck seem to have come out of their races well, "O'Brien said.

Paddy Power reacted to Broome's win by cutting him to 6-1 (from 8s) for the Epsom Classic and making O'Brien 1-3 (from 1-2) to train his seventh Derby winner on June 1.

The son of Australia, who was winning his second recognised Classic trial after triumphing in the Ballysax Stakes over the course and distance last month, was made to work to justify odds of 2-5.

An upset looked likely at one point, but Broome asserted his authority in the straight when asked to go for his race by Donnacha O'Brien and closed quickly to peg back his front-running stablemate Blenheim Palace, who produced a career-best performance to finish second, and win going away

Sovereign completed the Ballydoyle clean sweep by finishing half a length back in third.

Broome and Donnacha O'Brien with trainer Aidan O'Brien (left) after winning the Derrinstown Stud Derby TrialCredit: Patrick McCann

O'Brien's first two Epsom Derby winners, Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral(2002), completed the Ballysax-Derrinstown double en route to Classic glory and while none of his subsequent Derrinstown winners proved quite up the task at Epsom, there was no disguising the trainer's satisfaction with Broome's performance.

He said: "We're very pleased. He'll have learned plenty from that. He's a very lazy colt but picked up well when Donnacha asked him to go and was well on top at the finish. He always does what he's asked to do and that's what you like to see.

"Racing on the inside through the race was a good experience for him with Epsom in mind. The Ballysax and today's race was always the early season plan for him. He's done well so far and Epsom will be next providing he comes out of this race okay."

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