Aidan O'Brien delighted as 'powerful' Frankel colt becomes early Derby favourite after easy Curragh win

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The opening maiden at the Curragh on Saturday has a stellar roll of honour that includes City Of Troy in 2023 and Giant Sequoia added his name to that list under Ryan Moore, an emphatic success which saw him slashed to 14-1 favourite for next year's Derby with Unibet.

The Irish Derby favourite Benvenuto Cellini was beaten in the same maiden 12 months ago on his debut, going down to stablemate Dorset, but the 4-9 favourite Giant Sequoia made no mistake on his second start and showed the expected improvement from his debut display over course and distance a few weeks ago.

Moore always looked to have matters under control and eased clear in the closing stages for a two-and-a-quarter-length victory over stablemate Oklahoma, who will surely have no problem winning a maiden.

Giant Sequoia runs in the colours of leading US owner-breeder John Stewart's Resolute Racing operation, and trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "He had a lovely run here the first day and he came on lovely. He's a lovely big horse. I couldn’t be happier really.

"He’ll have no problem staying seven furlongs and he’ll have no problem going up to a mile in time. He’ll only get better. He's big and powerful.”

Giant Sequoia certainly looks the part on paper. He's a son of Frankel and the mare Pink Dogwood, who was beaten a neck by Anapurna in the Oaks in 2019, and the early signs are that he could live up to that gorgeous pedigree.

As well as City Of Troy, fellow Ballydoyle Classic winners Gleneagles and Australia also took their steps toward racing royalty status by running in this race.

Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore debrief after Giant Sequoia's successCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Sun shines again

Sun Goddess did what Confucius could not do.

The highly regarded two-year-old filly bounced back quickly from a Royal Ascot defeat in the Albany Stakes to land the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes, while stablemate Confucius was unable to put the wrong of his Coventry defeat right in the Jebel Ali Racecourse Anglesey Stakes.

Sun Goddess: won the Airlie Stud Stakes under Ryan MooreCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

O'Brien said of Sun Goddess: "She’s a lovely filly and we’ll give her a bit of time now.

"She just got hung up in the pace a little bit at Ascot. Ryan said he had to fight early and the winner was locked up out the back and just came when the race was over.

"She's very classy. A great traveller and she's still a baby. The Moyglare would be suitable. She’s going to stay and will be comfortable enough going up to seven furlongs."

Robson rules

Robson Aguiar won't be forgetting the last Saturday in June for a while as 16-1 shot Ballinea Star led home a 1-2 for the trainer in the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes ahead of stablemate Immortal Guard.

Ballinea Star (near) beat her stablemate Immortal Guard in the Anglesey StakesCredit: Patrick McCann (racinpost.com/photos)

Aguiar said: “I knew there wasn't much between them. Ballinea Star won well last time, I let Donagh [O'Connor] pick and he picked the filly. It was a big result with Immortal Guard finishing second.

"I've loved Ballinea Star since I saw her in the sales and when she goes further, she'll have a lot to give. She's tough and strong. We might come back to Leopardstown for the Silver Flash and have the Moyglare, Goffs Million and the Breeders' Cup in mind too."

Derby king

Johnny Murtagh won his second Derby in the space of 24 hours as the trainer sent out Fixation to win the Ladies Derby under Georgie Benson after Darius Dark landed the Apprentice Derby under Rory Mulligan on Friday evening.

2027 Derby, Epsom
Unibet: 14 Giant Sequoia, 20 Aix La Chapelle, 25 Abraham Lincoln, 33 Oklahoma, On Just Terms, Sergei Diaghilev, Shakespeare, 40 bar.

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