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The Derby: Ballydoyle 109 Club has two more candidates
By Andy Stephens
Last Updated: Tue 2 Jun 2026
Nobody has won more editions of the Derby than Aidan O’Brien but those looking for patterns or blueprints among his previous 11 winners will be left doing a bit of head scratching.
They represent a jumble in terms of experience, routes to the race, previous ability and how the betting expected them to perform.
None of his possible runners at Epsom on Saturday are unbeaten, but don't fret about that.
Only three of the stable's winners lined up with a flawless record, including one who was unraced as two-year-old in Ruler Of The World. Six of his victors were beaten on their debuts.
Four of the trainer’s winners had previously won at the highest level, with Pierre Bonnard seeking to become a fifth.
At the other end of the spectrum, Serpentine only lost his maiden tag the week before the premier Classic.
Galileo went solo when giving O’Brien his first taste of glory in 2001 but, since then, he’s always had multiple runners when triumphing and his perceived first string has taken the spoils only 40% of the time. The average SP has been about 11-1, admittedly skewed by the 40-1 victory of Wings Of Eagles.
Overall, O’Brien’s winners have averaged about four runs each and less than three wins apiece in the build-up.
His first two winners had their final editions in the Derby Trial at Leopardstown, but since then four have limbered up in the 2000 Guineas; three in the Chester Vase; one in the Lingfield Derby Trial and one in a maiden.
None of his Guineas runners are resurfacing this time but Benvenuto Cellini, the runaway Chester Vase winner, will be in action.
The Dante is recognised as a huge trial but O'Brien has sent 28 challengers to York and none have gone on to win on the Downs. Indeed, most of them have not run, or been well beaten. Action and Christmas Day will attempt to buck that trend.
One common link is that seven of the 11 made their debut in June or July, and none earlier than June. Action, Pierre Bonnard, Benvenuto Cellini and Pierre Bonnard fit into that category this time.
City Of Troy has been his highest-rated runner going into the race – he had a mark of 124 – although Galileo (130) would end up having a rating 2lb higher than his peak. And, of course, he’s been integral to the yard’s subsequent successes.
Three of O’Brien’s winners have lined up at Epsom with a rating of 109, while Serpentine would have been even lower had he been allotted a mark.
This time, his possibles have ratings ranging between 100 and 113. Pierre Bonnard and Christmas Day will get the chance to join Ruler Of The World, Wings Of Eagles and Lambourn in The Ballydoyle 109 Club.
Just never underestimate an O’Brien horse drawn in stall 10. Galileo, Ruler Of The World, Auguste Rodin and Lambourn all jumped from that gate, while High Chaparral and Camelot were one spot away in nine.
AIDAN'S 11 ACES HEADING INTO THE DERBY
Galileo (2001)
Debut run as a 2-y-o: October 27 (won)
Runs: 3
Wins: 3
Group One wins: 0
Official Rating: --
Peak Rating after: 130
Runs in the UK: 0
Shortest distance tackled: 1m
Longest distance tackled: 1m 2f
Previous runs that season: 2 – won the Ballysax and Derby Trial at Leopardstown
O’Brien runners in race: 1
SP: 11-4 jt fav
Perceived place in stable pecking order: N/A
Stall: 10 (of 12)
What happened: hit the front two out and beat Golan by 3½ lengths
High Chaparral (2002)
Debut run as a 2-y-o: September 30 (2nd)
Runs: 5
Wins: 4
Group One wins: 1 (Futurity)
Official Rating: 117
Peak Rating after: 126
Runs in the UK: 1/1
Shortest distance tackled: 7f
Longest distance tackled: 1m 2f
Previous runs that season: 2 - won the Ballysax and Derby Trial at Leopardstown
O’Brien runners in race: 3
SP: 7-2
Perceived place in stable pecking order: 2nd (Hawk Wing went off 9-4 fav)
Stall: 9 (of 12)
What happened: swooped from off the pace to beat Hawk Wing two lengths
Camelot (2012)
Debut run as a 2-y-o: July 14 (won)
Runs: 3
Wins: 3
Group One wins: 2 (Futurity and 2000 Guineas)
Official Rating: 121
Peak Rating after: 124
Runs in the UK: 2/2
Shortest distance tackled: 1m
Longest distance tackled: 1m
Previous runs that season: 1 – won the 2000 Guineas
O’Brien runners in race: 2
SP: 8-13 fav
Perceived place in stable pecking order: No 1
Stall: 9 (of 12)
What happened: raced in rear, led a furlong out and surged clear for a five-length win
Ruler Of The World (2013 – son of Galileo)
Debut run as a 2-y-o: unraced (made debut April 7 as 3yo, won)
Runs: 2
Wins: 2
Group One wins: 0
Official Rating: 109
Peak Rating after: 122
Runs in the UK: 1/1
Shortest distance tackled: 1m 2f
Longest distance tackled: 1m 4f
Previous runs that season: 2 – won a maiden at The Curragh and the Chester Vase
O’Brien runners in race: 5
SP: 7-1
Perceived place in stable pecking order: 2nd
Stall: 10 (of 12)
What happened: Held up before staying on powerfully up the straight beat Libertarian by 1½ lengths
Australia (2014 – son of Galileo)
Debut run as a 2-y-o: June 30 (2nd)
Runs: 4
Wins: 2
Group One wins: 0
Official Rating: 119
Peak Rating after: 127
Runs in the UK: 1 (3rd)
Shortest distance tackled: 7f
Longest distance tackled: 1m
Previous runs that season: 1 – 3rd in the 2000 Guineas
O’Brien runners in race: 4
SP: 11-8 fav
Perceived place in stable pecking order: No 1
Stall: 12 (of 16)
What happened: raced in midfield, led over a furlong out and fended off Kingston Hill by 1¼ lengths.
Wings Of Eagles (2017)
Debut run as a 2-y-o: July 29 (7th)
Runs: 5
Wins: 1
Group One wins: 0
Official Rating: 109
Peak Rating after: 120
Runs in the UK: 2 (fourth in Zetland and second in Chester Vase)
Shortest distance tackled: 7f
Longest distance tackled: 1m 4f
Previous runs that season: 1 (second in Chester Vase)
O’Brien runners in race: 6
SP: 40-1
Perceived place in stable pecking order: 5th
Stall: 14 (of 18)
What happened: Had only two behind him entering the straight and still only seventh a furlong out. Stayed on strongly to beat Cliffs Of Moher and Cracksman
Anthony Van Dyck (2019 – son of Galileo)
Debut run as a 2-y-o: July 1 (7th)
Runs: 8
Wins: 4
Group One wins: 0 (beaten in three G1 races as a juvenile)
Official Rating: 118
Peak Rating after: 122
Runs in the UK: 2 (plus ran at Breeders’ Cup)
Shortest distance tackled: 7f
Longest distance tackled: 1m 3½f
Previous runs that season: 1 – won the Lingfield Derby Trial
O’Brien runners in race: 7
SP: 13-2
Perceived place in stable pecking order: 3rd
Stall: 7 (of 13)
What happened: Ninth into the straight. Kept on to win in a blanket finish where the first five were separated by about half a length
Serpentine (2020 – son of Galileo)
Debut run as a 2-y-o: September 17 (tenth)
Runs: 3
Wins: 1
Group One wins: 0
Official Rating: --
Peak Rating after: 120
Runs in the UK: 0
Shortest distance tackled: 1m
Longest distance tackled: 1m 2f
Previous runs that season: 2 – beaten in a maiden at The Curragh and then won a maiden a week before the Derby (ran on July 4 this year)
O’Brien runners in race: 6
SP: 25-1
Perceived place in stable pecking order: 4th
Stall: 12 (of 16)
What happened: Made all the running for a 5½-length success
Auguste Rodin (2023 – dam Rhododendron by Galileo)
Debut run as a 2-y-o: June 1 (2nd)
Runs: 5
Wins: 3
Group One wins: 1 (Futurity)
Official Rating: 117
Peak Rating after: 125
Runs in the UK: 2 (also 12th in 2000 Guineas)
Shortest distance tackled: 7f
Longest distance tackled: 1m
Previous runs that season: 1 (12th in the 2000 Guineas)
O’Brien runners in race: 3
SP: 9-2
Perceived place in stable pecking order: No 1
Stall: 10 (of 14)
What happened: Led inside the final half furlong to beat King Of Steel half a length
City Of Troy (2024 – dam Together Forever by Galileo)
Debut run as a 2-y-o: July 1 (won)
Runs: 4
Wins: 3
Group One wins: 1 (the Dewhurst)
Official Rating: 124
Peak Rating after: 128
Runs in the UK: 3 (also won at the July Meeting and was 9th in the 2000 Guineas)
Shortest distance tackled: 7f
Longest distance tackled: 1m
Previous runs that season: 1 (9th in the 2000 Guineas)
O’Brien runners in race: 3
SP: 3-1 fav
Perceived place in stable pecking order: No 1
Stall: 1 (of 16)
What happened: Led two out and beat Ambiente Friendly by 2¾ lengths
Lambourn (2025 – by Australia, son of Galileo)
Debut run as a 2-y-o: July 17 (won)
Runs: 5
Wins: 3
Group One wins: 0
Official Rating: 109
Peak Rating after: 120
Runs in the UK: 1/1
Shortest distance tackled: 1m
Longest distance tackled: 1m4f
Previous runs that season: 2 – runner-up in the Ballysax before winning the Chester Vase
O’Brien runners in race: 3
SP: 13-2
Perceived place in stable pecking order: 2nd
Stall: 10 (of 18)
What happened: Made all and never challenged, beating Lazy Griff 3¾ lengths.
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