Benvenuto Cellini, winner of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby 2026, Credit Breandán Ó hUallacháin
Breandán Ó hUallacháin
Benvenuto Cellini and Ryan Moore gave trainer Aidan O’Brien an 18th victory in the €1.25 million Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on Sunday.
Run at The Curragh, the ‘Home of the Irish Classics’ in County Kildare, the son of Frankel out of the Lope De Vega mare, Newspaperofrecord, led home his stable companions Christmas Day (4/1) and Pierre Bonnard (9/1) to give the Ballydoyle handler, and owners Coolmore, a trifecta in the premier Irish classic.
The winner, Benvenuto Cellini, was the punters’ choice in the Betfred Derby at Epsom Downs, England, at the beginning of the month. The colt had a leg resting on a stalls’ bar, however, when the starter opened the gates. Following a stewards’ inquiry post-race he was ultimately declared a non-runner. There weren’t any such issues for the chestnut three-year-old today though as he again started as race favourite.
Moore Stays Loyal
English jockey Ryan Moore, who has first choice of the four Aidan O’Brien-conditioned runners in the eight-horse Group 1, stayed loyal to Benvenuto Cellini, a decision which was clearly noted by the betting market.
Starting the one-and-a-half-mile event as 7/4 favourite, Benvenuto Cellini was towards the rear of the field in the initial stages of the 161st Irish Derby but was mid-division after four furlongs as his stable companion Action (22/1), with Declan McDonagh in the saddle, set the pace.
Moore looked confident on the Coolmore and White Birch Farm homebred at the two-eighths pole and he took the lead from another Ballydoyle inmate, the 2026 Betfred Derby winner, Christmas Day, a furlong and a half from the wire.
Benvenuto Cellini, a full-brother to the stakes-winning filly Giselle, was soon under a ride, and showed his prowess as he stayed on well inside the final furlong and recorded a length-and-three-quarters victory, despite the best efforts of Christmas Day and Ronan Whelan.
Pierre Bonnard and Wayne Lordan, who has tracked the leaders into the home stretch, could not pose a serious challenge to the eventual winner, as the son of Camelot stayed on at the same pace to take third place, a neck behind his half-brother Christmas Day, who was bidding to become the 21st horse to complete the Epsom-Curragh Derby double.
“The Form Was Always Going To Stand Up”
Speaking to the media assembled in the winner’s circle following his 18th Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby win, Aidan O’Brien said of his winner:
“We always liked him. He had a very good run at Chester (where he won the Chester Vase) before Epsom. All the things seemed to conspire against him at Epsom. Benvenuto Cellini had a very ordinary run at Epsom, and we knew all the things that went wrong – but you’re never really sure until you see it.
“It was a brave call from Ryan (Moore, winning rider) to ride him as Christmas Day was working very solidly going into this and won well at Epsom. It was a great race, and I hope everyone enjoyed it. The form was always going to stand up and if there was any weakness in his armour he would have been found out.”
Breeders’ Cup May Be An Option
When asked about future targets for the son of Juddmonte Farms’ Frankel, the County Wexford-born handler admitted:
“He could go to the King George (VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on 25 July). If he needs a break, though, he’ll have one, and then be trained for the Champion Stakes (at Leopardstown on 12 September). He looks ready-made for the US so the Breeders’ Cup (at Keeneland) could be an option.”
Sunday’s win was a first at Group 1 level for Benvenuto Cellini and a 41st for his sire Frankel. The chestnut three-year-old colt, who now boasts a record of four wins and two places, also holds an entry in the one-mile six-furlong Group 1 Comer Group International Irish St Leger, the final Irish classic of the season at The Curragh, on Sunday, 13 September.
