Australia imperious in G1 Irish Derby

The brilliant Australia (3c Galileo-Ouija Board, by Cape Cross) added a facile victory in the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby to his already outstanding record at the Curragh on Saturday evening.

It was a hugely-impressive success for the brilliant Epsom Derby hero as he cruised home to lead a 1-2-3 for Galileo in the Classic with Kingfisher (3c Galileo-Mystical Lady, by Halling) in second and Orchestra (3c Galileo-Bywayofthestars, by Danehill) finishing third.

Australia brought an 11th success in the race for trainer Aidan O’Brien, who told irishracing.com: “He is very unusual in that he has so much speed and class. He'd be very comfortable back at a mile but for him to get a mile and a half the way he does is incredible. He just relaxes, pace is a big thing and he is some traveller.

“A mile is no problem to him and that's what makes him very special. Very early on as a two-year-old, he did four 11-second furlongs working half speed and that's very hard to do but he was able to do it at a very early stage so obviously the class was in there.

“I'd love to go for the G1 Irish Champion Stakes as he's made for it, and you'd love to go back to a mile and a quarter with him. The lads will decide that but maybe he'll have a little rest now.”

Jockey Joseph O’Brien added: “This is a very special horse, he was an armchair ride. He has a massive engine and we still haven't seen the best of this horse. I'd love to ride him at a mile and a quarter - I think that's going to be his thing on fast ground.

“His attitude and his pace sets him apart from the others. He's a great mover and he's so well balanced. When I walked him down to the barn and came back before the race for the parade, he'd have stayed asleep.”

Australia, a son of the G1 Oaks heroine, realised 525,000gns as a yearling and was bred by Lord Derby’s Stanley Estate and Stud Company.