Los Angeles (4-5 Favourite) maintained his unbeaten record at Leopardstown today when successful in the Group Three Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial.

 

A son of the 2012 Derby hero Camelot, Los Angeles was making his seasonal debut today having won a Tipperary maiden and the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud in 2023. The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt is now an 8-1 (from 16-1) chance for glory in the Betfred Derby at Epsom Downs on Saturday 1st June with the race sponsor.

 

Partnered today by Wayne Lordan, Los Angeles was settled in midfield as his stable companion Euphoric made the running in the 10-furlong contest. He was asked for his effort entering the final furlong and stayed on well, doing his best work at the finish, as he overhauled Euphoric to win by a length.

 

Chris Armstrong, representing Ballydoyle, said: “Seamus (Heffernan) rode him in Tipperary on his first run and we ran another nice Justify horse in the same race and it turned out to be a good maiden. Then he stepped up again when he went to France for the Group One. Ryan (Moore) had a tough choice that day between the horse he rode and then Christophe (Soumillon) got on this fella.

 

“He’s come along with every run. He’s got the pedigree – he’s by Camelot so he’ll get the stamina. Everything is there for him. When we step him up again to a mile and a half the distance will help him and he’s going to come on a lot fitness wise for it.”

 

Asked whether his big stature would suit Epsom Downs and a tilt at the Betfred Derby, Armstrong continued: “He’s a big horse. He’s a beautiful mover, he’s got the right mind as you’ll have seen when he walked round the paddock beforehand when he was absolutely chilled.

 

“He’s got the same attitude at home. Camelot obviously went round there no problem and a lot of his good sire traits are in this horse. He can travel away but I think the big improvement will be when he goes up to the mile and a half.

 

“It’s his first run in a year and he still hasn’t really been tightened up but once he goes up in trip he’ll go on again.”

 

Jockey Wayne Lordan said: “He’s a lovely horse and a very laidback sort of horse. He needed to get out today and I think you could see by the race he goes along behind the bridal so he’s going to make a great step forward today and stepping up in trip he’s going to improve again.

 

“He’s the same at home. He just does what he has to do and that’s it. Now that he’s gone and won he can take that step forward again.

 

“I think he’s going to be a better horse when he gets up to that mile and a half.”

 

Asked about the opportunity to ride in Ryan Moore’s absence he went on: “It’s just the way it worked out. Ryan’s away in France for the Guineas so I was just grateful for the opportunity.”

 

First staged in 1971, four horses have triumphed in the Derby Trial before going on to score at Epsom Downs - High Chaparral (2002), Galileo (2001), Sinndar (2000) and Golden Fleece (1982),

 

Aidan O’Brien has saddled a record nine winners of the Betfred Derby - Galileo (2001), High Chaparral (2002), Camelot (2012), Ruler of the World (2013), Australia (2014), Wings of Eagles (2017), Anthony Van Dyck (2019), Serpentine (2020) and Auguste Rodin (2023).

 

Los Angeles in owned by a Coolmore syndicate and runs in the colours of Georg von Opel’s Westerberg.