Aidan O’Brien says Metropolis of Troy is “little question” the most effective Derby winner he has ever educated after watching the 3-1 favorite give him a record-extending tenth victory within the race.
Final 12 months’s champion juvenile had earned excessive reward main into the Basic season however there have been doubts after he pale badly within the 2,000 Guineas final month.
But jockey Ryan Moore expertly guided the Irish-trained colt by way of the sector at Epsom earlier than bursting clear to earn his fourth win within the race by two and three-quarter lengths.
Ambiente Pleasant (9-2) was second whereas O’Brien’s Los Angeles (6-1) was third, with 25-1 shot Deira Mile ending fourth.
It was a second consecutive victory within the Derby for O’Brien, with Metropolis of Troy, like Auguste Rodin final 12 months, bouncing again in startling trend after disappointment within the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
When requested if Metropolis of Troy was the most effective Derby winner of the ten he has now educated, O’Brien stated: “Little doubt! As a result of he has the cruise, he has the stability, he quickens and he stays. I do not assume there’s any doubt about that.”
Ballydoyle-based O’Brien, 54, added he accepts the blame for his star horse’s poor displaying within the 2,000 Guineas.
“Ryan gave him an unbelievable journey and I am so grateful to everybody for the work they’ve completed,” he stated.
“We knew the Guineas was completely flawed and I made errors coaching him, that is the underside line.
“There have been stones I did not look beneath. He was too contemporary, he was unprepared, he blew up, that is the truth. However we discovered from it and knew the flexibility he had – and since then all the pieces has been stunning.”
Moore admitted he didn’t know what to anticipate earlier than the race and had his work minimize out after initially being badly positioned.
Then, after discovering a route by way of the sector on the within, he needed to take care of a stray horse within the closing levels – Voyage had unseated jockey Pat Dobbs out of the gate.
“It was arduous to know what would occur at present however I used to be very positive we nonetheless had the most effective horse for the race,” Moore advised ITV.
“I can not fake we knew it could occur however we do know he has a giant engine, he confirmed himself to be a superb two-year-old.
“Within the Guineas we acquired just a few issues flawed however it’s nice that he might come again at present.”