Five of the Best Horses Currently in Training with Aidan O’Brien

Aidan O’Brien continues to dominate the world of flat racing with a string of exceptional thoroughbreds under his expert guidance. Renowned for his unparalleled training skills and meticulous attention to detail, which often results in his runners being the favourites in horse betting, the master of Ballydoyle will likely be remembered as one of the best handlers of time.  

In this article, we delve into five of the best horses currently in training with O’Brien, exploring their achievements on the track and what makes them stand out as extraordinary equine talents in the competitive landscape of world-class flat racing. 

City Of Troy

As the winner of the 2024 Epsom Derby, there’s no better place to start than with the exciting three-year-old, City Of Troy. 

The Coolmore horse was crowned the Champion Juvenile of 2023 after winning all of his three starts as a two-year-old, landing a maiden at the Curragh on debut before scoring in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes and the prestigious Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. 

However, he didn’t live up to expectations in the 2000 Guineas on his seasonal reappearance this year, finishing ninth in a well-below-par display.  

Nonetheless, O’Brien went back to the drawing board and in what can only be described as an immense training effort, managed to get City Of Troy back to his best one month later for the Derby as he sealed Ballydoyle’s record-extending 10th success at Epsom.

Kyprios

Another big-race winner, Kyprios landed O’Brien his historic eighth victory in the illustrious Ascot Gold Cup in 2022.

The now six-year-old went on an incredible six-race unbeaten run in that campaign, which featured four Group 1 victories in a row, including the Prix Du Cadran and the Irish St. Leger as well as the Gold Cup. 

Kyprios, unfortunately, missed the majority of the 2023 season through injury, returning late in the year with back-to-back seconds on the defence of his Irish St. Leger at the Curragh and the Long Distance Cup at Champions Day. 

However, he’s returned to winnings this season with successive victories in his two starts and all roads lead to Ascot as he aims to regain the Gold Cup.

Auguste Rodin

While Auguste Rodin might not be the most consistent performer, as a dual Derby winner he can’t be overlooked.  

The four-year-old is another example of O’Brien’s training prowess, as he too bounced back from flopping in the Guineas to win the Epsom and Curragh editions of the Derby last season.

Victories in the Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Turf followed. However, Auguste Rodin is winless in two starts this year — finishing last in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March and second in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh. 

He’s on course for Royal Ascot, and it will be interesting to see which version of Auguste Rodin shows up for the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes. 

Henry Longfellow

Another horse that is going to test O’Brien’s outstanding training ability, the Ballydoyle handler has his work cut out to discover what went wrong for Henry Longfellow in the French 2000 Guineas. 

Like City Of Troy, the three-year-old has an exceptional juvenile campaign — winning all three of his starts at the Curragh, including the Group 2 Futurity Stakes and the Group 1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes. 

However, he imploded in the French version of the 2000 Guineas at Longchamp in May, finishing eighth in a disappointing display in Paris. 

Henry Longfellow could come on from that run though, and it’s worth giving him another chance in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. 

Continuous

Unbeaten as a two-year-old, notably winning the Group 3 Prix Thomas Bryon Jockey Club de Turquie at Saint-Cloud, Continuous flattered to deceive in the first half of his three-year-old season. 

He was a third in the Dante at York before finishing eighth in the French Derby (Prix du Jockey Club) and a distant second in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot. 

However, he upped his game in the second half of the season when winning the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes and landing the St. Leger — another of the five British Classics. 

Continuous rounded off the year with a respectable third in the prestigious Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and is set to make his seasonal return in the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting.