Aidan O'Brien hails Ryan Moore brilliance as Camille Pissarro lands French Derby for Ballydoyle
A close-up third behind stablemate Henri Matisse in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains last month, the Ballydoyle inmate was sent off 12/5 favourite.
From a position on the inside rail, his pilot had to be patient once the race started to unfold up the home straight, but Moore found the gaps at the right time to deliver his mount.
Andre Fabre's Cualificar kept on for second ahead of John and Thady Gosden's Detain. The winner's stablemate Trinity College finished fourth after being up with pace alongside Bowmark for the majority of the contest.
O'Brien said: 'I'm delighted for everybody and Ryan gave him an incredible ride. He's very exciting and he's a Group One winner at two and now he's a French Derby winner and we all know how important they are.
'Ryan was prepared to wait today and had to ride him to try to get the trip, which was an unknown. Obviously Ryan had a lovely draw and different to the Guineas where he was wide all the way.
'We thought he was a top-class horse last year and he went to the Coventry at Royal Ascot as our number one horse.
'He is a big, powerful horse and was obviously a bit weak and then progressed as the year went on. He's got a big frame – a big, rangy horse with a lovely mind and it takes a very good horse to keep taking his training, as he was growing last year and at the same time running one big race after another.'
Camille Pissarro joins O'Brien's St Mark's Basilica on the Chantilly roll of honour, with the Ballydoyle handler minded to keep options open for the future, admitting that he would not be against a return to a mile.
O'Brien added: 'He's a perfectly proportioned son of Wootton Bassett and although a mile and a quarter is obviously fine, I think going back to a mile would be no problem for him.
'We go from race to race and find out every two weeks how the horses are. It's then we decide what plan to make and we go with the flow. You can't be sure this horse would get a mile and a half but he obviously is a class horse.'
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Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Aidan O'Brien Derby update as trainer speaks on his Epsom runners
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Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
FA Cup balls ready for a wide-open Derby with no obvious winner
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The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I was a ‘hard as nails' six-time champion jockey – there's two things I HATE about racing today
A WINNER of the Derby, Oaks, Arc and both Guineas - 'hard as nails' and a six-time champion jockey akin to a horse whisperer. Kieren Fallon did it all - some of it not so good - in his legendary career. 2 Legendary jockey Kieren Fallon won it all in his star-studded career including the Derby multiple times Credit: PA:Press Association 2 But now the 60-year-old, having had time to reflect on his career out of the saddle, says there are two things he cannot stand about racing today But the iconic rider has revealed two things he simply cannot stand about watching today. Fallon, now 60, was a punter's pal during his heyday in the late Nineties and early Noughties. Only one year out of seven, when Kevin Darley won in 2000, was he not crowned the best in Britain. The victories and millions upon millions in prize money piled up high for the Irish rider. And he had his own way of doing things. Fallon didn't like to ride hold-up style, sitting at the back and waiting for the gaps to appear with a late burst of speed. He always preferred to be up with the pace, ensuring a true gallop. And that partly explains one of his gripes with the way racing has gone today. Most read in Horse Racing Fallon, who won the Epsom Oaks and Derby four and three times respectively, got the issue off his chest on Luck On Sunday. Now a work rider for Godolphin's No1 trainer Charlie Appleby, Fallon said there is one riding style he cannot stand. Opening up on his pet peeves, Fallon, dad of current jockey Cieren, said: "I hate these false rails. "I think, for one, it takes the art of race-riding out of it. "Now, for a punter and from a betting point of view, they're great because it opens up the race. "But when they came out at first I didn't agree with them. "Another thing I don't agree with is coming up the centre of the racecourse - it opens it up for everyone. "But, if you have a bet, and your horse is in behind it gives you a lot more chance than if you stay on the rail. "But that's the fun and that's the art of it." Fallon also opened up on what it's like to work for Appleby. The Southampton boy completed a Guineas double this year with Desert Flower - red-hot favourite for the Oaks - and Ruling Court winning the 1000 and 2000 Guineas respectively. Fallon said Desert Flower is the one of the two he'd most like to ride at Epsom. But, despite his considerable experience, he's not allowed on the top young talent at Appleby's Moulton Paddocks yard. He joked: "He doesn't let me have much to do with the two-year-olds. "He says once you're over 55 you can't be riding yearlings - he's a p***-taker, Charlie is! "But he's a great guy to work for, he's fun." FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Read more on the Irish Sun Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
