O'Brien's young horses win at Saint-Cloud

It was a memorable weekend for Aidan O'Brien and the Ballydoyle team. Drumbeat won the Criterium de Saint-Cloud at the Saint-Cloud track in Paris, adding another Group One race to his record. The result strengthened the trainer's squad for the 2026 classics. Drumbeat was priced at 14-1 for the Derby.

The Wootton Bassett-bred colt had won the Zetland Stakes at Newmarket by a wide margin in his previous race. This time, ridden by Ryan Moore, he struggled to find room at a crucial stage of the race. However, he found a gap, came off the rail and went to the front with a furlong and a half to run. He then comfortably pulled clear of his rivals.

Drumbeat beat his stablemate Shakespeare, ridden by Christophe Soumillon, by two lengths in second. Joseph O'Brien's Jesus Green finished third. Starting as the favourite, Drumbeat gave O'Brien his seventh win in this race. For Moore, it was his first success.

Moore praised the horse's quality and handling. O'Brien expressed his satisfaction with the colt. The trainer said the horse had learned a great deal from the race and offered hope for next season.

The same weekend, O'Brien won a second Group One at Doncaster's Futurity Trophy with Giant Sequoia. At the Criterium International, however, Master Man edged past favourite Capability Brown in the final strides, denying O'Brien another race.