Jack Hobbs invades to take shot in Irish Derby

It’s a fair assumption that no Group or Grade 1 race anywhere in the world has been dominated by a trainer to the extent Aidan O’Brien has owned the Irish Derby. O’Brien won the race seven years in a row before fellow Irishman Jim Bolger won in 2013 with Trading Leather, but O’Brien was back on top last season with Australia, giving him eight wins in nine years and 10 in the last 14.

Saturday brings about the 2015 Irish Derby, and there is O’Brien with half the runners among eight entered. But what O’Brien does not have this year is the favorite as Epsom Derby runner-up Jack Hobbs invades from England for trainer John Gosden, who trails O’Brien in Irish Derby wins 11-0.

The Irish Derby is a rich race, worth about $1.67 million, and will be contested over 12 furlongs on what’s expected to be good to firm going at The Curragh.

osden hopes the ground tilts more good than firm but also expects Jack Hobbs, whom he describes as lanky and long striding, to suit The Curragh better than Epsom. The Curragh goes right-handed around gentler bends, while the 12-furlong trip at Epsom is left-handed and features a sharp turn into the long homestretch.

Ideal racecourse or not, Jack Hobbs ran well in the Derby, finishing more than four lengths in front of the third-place horse, Storm the Stars, who also returns for the Irish Derby. Jack Hobbs had the lead a furlong out but was no match late for the Gosden-trained Golden Horn, who never has been beaten and is the only horse Jack Hobbs has lost to, having also finished second behind him in the Dante.

O’Brien’s team is headed by Highland Reel, who exits a good second-place finish in the French Derby, where he beat 12 and lost only to New Bay, who had been second in the French 2000 Guineas. Highland Reel was making his first start beyond one mile in the 10 1/2-furlong French Derby and might have room to improve at longer distances. O’Brien’s Irish Derby filly Qualify already is a 12-furlong winner, having upset the Epsom Oaks in her most recent start. Giovanni Canneletto needs to find substantial improvement over his fourth in the English Derby, while Kilimanjaro is easily the longest price of the O’Brien quartet.

The Dermot Weld-trained Radanpour makes his group stakes debut but has won all three of his starts and already is a two-time winner at 1 1/2 miles.