EPSOM, England, June 2 (UPI) -- Camelot dominated Saturday's Epsom Derby, drawing off to win by 5 lengths and giving the O'Brien family a first-ever father-son Derby win.
With Joseph O'Brien riding for his trainer dad, Aidan O'Brien, Camelot's win was never in doubt. After letting stablemate Astrology make the early going, the younger O'Brien sent Camelot after the lead with 2 furlongs to run and he easily went by and cleared the field in the final furlong to win in hand.
For all that, the jockey said Camelot was not totally comfortable on the course rated good, "so he did well to win today. He's a very special horse."
Main Sequence rallied late to take second over Astrology. Camelot finished the 1 1/2 miles of the race officially designated the Investec Derby in a quite respectable 2:33.90.
While American racing fans await I'll Have Another's attempt to complete the U.S. Triple Crown next week, Camelot is in a position for an even tougher triple. With the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby in hand, he has only the St Leger before him to complete the sweep of the British series. The U.S. Triple Crown has gone unclaimed since Affirmed in 1978; the British version since Nijinsky in 1970.
Camelot, a Montjeu colt, remains undefeated in four starts.
The O'Briens also teamed to take down the secondary feature on the card, sending St Nicholas Abbey to a repeat win in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup. A 5-year-old colt by Montjeu, St Nicholas Abbey cruised home 4 1/2 lengths ahead of Red Cadeaux with Masked Marvel third.
St Nicholas Abbey, winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs, finished the Coronation Cup in 2:34.52.
"He has the option of the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Ascot," said Aidan O'Brien. "And he has the option of the King George. Then obviously there is the Arc at the end of the year. He's a very exciting horse."
