Los Angeles reverses Epsom form with Ambiente Friendly to win Irish Derby at the Curragh

In a year that has seen British Flat horses put it up to their closest neighbours and keenest rivals, it was once again Aidan O'Brien who led the resistance as Los Angeles suppressed a three-pronged assault on the Irish Derby to confirm his status as an emerging force over middle distances.

After both Newmarket Guineas stayed at home, it was the Ballydoyle maestro who conjured a Lazarus-like recovery from City Of Troy to secure the Derby at Epsom, albeit after Dermot Weld had also landed the Oaks with Ezeliya.

Both Irish Guineas went for export, and on Saturday back at the Curragh Bluestocking thwarted fellow raider Emily Upjohn to add the Pretty Polly to the haul. White Birch's memorable conquest of Auguste Rodin in the Tattersalls Gold Cup was still the only local Group 1 win at that stage.

Roll the clock forward to Sunday's Classic and there was a point around two furlongs out in the €1.25 million Dubai Duty Free-sponsored event when the three British challengers began to swarm around Los Angeles. When it comes to O'Brien in this race, though, it's never quite enough to merely have a boot on the neck.

Ryan Moore, who is riding at the peak of his powers, managed to wrestle out of an ominous predicament and he had a willing partner in Los Angeles.

They had got a charmed run up the inside when pacesetting stablemate Euphoric cornered wide turning in, but Ambiente Friendly, who had his measure when second at Epsom, followed in his slipstream. However, he flattered to deceive.

As was the case on the Downs, James Fanshawe's colt couldn't quite sustain his challenge inside the distance. Sunway swept home with a flourish to deny him second for David Menuisier and Oisin Murphy, and Roger Varian's smooth Leicester winner Matsuri also finished purposefully after not enjoying the clearest of runs under James Doyle to be fourth.

They finished in a bit of a heap – just a length and a half covered the first four – but, at the end of it all, it was O'Brien's name on the illustrious roll of honour for a 16th time.

David Jennings: Sweet 16 for Aidan O'Brien as Los Angeles hangs tough, but do we stick or twist with the Irish Derby?

Despite also being a Group 1 winner as a juvenile at Saint-Cloud in the autumn, Los Angeles clearly remains a work in progress. Having overtaken Ambiente Friendly at the head of the betting on the exchanges in the countdown to the off on Sunday, he again got hot down at the start and duly drifted late on. He eventually returned at odds of 13-8, with Robert Havlin's mount sent off the 6-4 market leader, but emerged on top in the contest that mattered.

"We were delighted with him at Epsom and we thought he would come forward," O'Brien said of his handsome son of Camelot, whose Derby third remains his sole defeat in five starts. "Obviously he did go forward at Epsom and learned plenty, so we were hoping that would be the case so he could come back here. Ryan gave him a great ride."

He added: "We think he'll get better. He's a big, hardy horse. He looks like he's a baby but he was a Group 1 winner at two as well and he keeps progressing."

Where Los Angeles goes next is still to be decided, although both O'Brien and Moore rejected the suggestion that he didn't look like he was screaming to go down in trip.

"We came here thinking he was going to turn into a Leger horse but Ryan said he has way more class than that," O'Brien said.

Ryan Moore, John Magnier and Aidan O'Brien after winning the Irish Derby with Los AngelesCredit: Patrick McCann

Moore, winning the race for a second time following Auguste Rodin's 2023 victory, subsequently reiterated that sentiment. This was the first time he had ridden Los Angeles in a race and it was also a first Irish Derby triumph for the increasingly ubiquitous Westerberg colours.

"No, I think what would be wrong," he responded when asked if the winner might not be suited to dropping back in trip.

"He would probably get further but the way he travelled he took me there very easy. We went hard and the horses in front all finished out the back. The other three horses [Sunway, Ambiente Friendly and Matsuri] have all come from behind."

He added: "He was very professional and there was a bit of quality in the performance. He hasn't done anything wrong and he'll keep improving."

Menuisier expressed himself "delighted" with Sunway, another French juvenile Group 1 winner who hadn't fired in the French Derby.

"That's the third Classic I've lost by less than a length this season, so I'm used to it now," he joked.

"We knew it was a hot race and we felt he was unlucky in the Jockey Club, but until they prove it to everybody you still have a little doubt in your head.

"Today he showed he's a really talented horse. I think I'll consider him for the Leger because he relaxes beautifully. He has slotted himself between the Derby second and third, so that's a massive performance."

Los Angeles leads home Sunway, Ambiente Friendly and Matsuri in the Irish DerbyCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Ambiente Friendly, in contrast, is likely to drop in distance.

"He came there looking good," a magnanimous Fanshawe said. "At the two-pole you were happy, but I just feel maybe he would be better over ten furlongs. He has come a long way in two months."

As, in fairness, has the winner. Paddy Power make Los Angeles their 3-1 favourite (from 4) for the St Leger and cut him to 7-1 (from 10) for the King George. Significantly, Auguste Rodin and City Of Troy are now the only ones ahead of him in the market for the Ascot showpiece, albeit the latter is bound for Sandown next weekend for a big showdown with White Birch.

Apart from John Murphy's great white hope, it's starting to look like O'Brien might have a stranglehold on the middle-distance ranks. Same as it ever was.

Racing Post Ratings: Los Angeles matches Hurricane Lane and Harzand

Looking at the distances splitting the first four home in the Irish Derby one would assume the form was not the strongest, with less than two lengths covering the principals. However, the time of the race and pace at which it was run says differently.

The final three home of the eight were the three who raced most prominently. Los Angeles was just in behind them, and for all that he had cover, he impressed in winning, finishing the race strongly having raced most prominently of the first four home.

Los Angeles achieved a provisional career-best Racing Post Rating of 121, with the possibility of more to come. Second-placed Sunway (120) took a marked step forward, with the rise in trip benefiting him. In third, Ambiente Friendly (119) was slightly below the level he achieved at Epsom where he finished second behind City Of Troy.

Back in fourth was Matsuri (119+), improving significantly on his first start outside novice company. He was arguably the unluckiest in the race, having been trapped by Sunway when looking to mount a challenge in the straight and ultimately unable to. He should continue to improve.

This was an above average winning performance in a race with a ten-year average at 120, but they will all need to improve if they are going to get the better of Epsom winner City Of Troy (125).
Jonny Pearson, handicapper

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes (3.40 Ascot, July 27)
Paddy Power: 7-4 Auguste Rodin, 6 City Of Troy, Luxembourg, 7 Los Angeles, 8 Bluestocking, Isle Of Jura, Passenger, 10 Ambiente Friendly, Dubai Honour, 12 Continuous, Rebel’s Romance, 16 bar

St Leger (Doncaster, September 14)
Coral: 3 Los Angeles, 5 Illinois, 8 Jan Brueghel, 10 Arabian Crown, Highbury, Space Legend, 12 City Of Troy, 16 Deira Mile, 20 bar

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