The unbeaten colt Galileo is on the verge of securing a remarkable classic double for Aidan O'Brien and Michael Kinane in today's £1 million Vodafone Epsom Derby.
Imagine's defeat of Queen Elizabeth's runner Flight Of Fancy in yesterday's Oaks allows the Irish team the chance to complete an Epsom clean sweep that could see 31-year-old O'Brien join training legends such as Henry Cecil and Dick Hern.
O'Brien has yet to have a Derby winner after saddling just five runners in the race during his short but meteoric career. Kinane, however, won racing's blue riband on Commander In Chief in 1993, and confidence is sky high.
"He has always looked the part, right from Day One. He was always going to be a special horse and he has had a very good preparation," the Co Wexford-born O'Brien said yesterday.
Most bookmakers believe Galileo will start favourite over the main English trained hope Golan, and that horse's trainer, Michael Stoute, had to settle for second yesterday.
Imagine overcame fast ground and a dislike of Epsom's uniquely hilly track to win the Oaks by a length and a quarter from Flight Of Fancy, who looked an unlucky loser after meeting interference in the straight.
"She really was very unfortunate and I think she could have won," said Queen Elizabeth's racing manager, Lord Carnarvon, while Stoute commented: "I don't know if she was unlucky, but she didn't win the race."
Imagine, who was heavily backed down to 3 to 1 favourite, overcame slow progress down the famous Epsom hill to overhaul Relish The Thought and become the seventh Irish-trained winner of the fillies' classic since the Second World War.
It was a second Oaks triumph for O'Brien and Kinane who also scored with Shahtoush three years ago, and the 41-year-old jockey was at his most patient on Imagine, who races for Mrs John Magnier and Mrs David Nagle.
"We had to make it up as we went along. She wasn't happy on the hill but I decided to let her come down it at her own pace and once in the straight I was happy. She's an all-round top-class filly," said Kinane.
The focus now will be even more intense on Galileo who will try to become the 11th Irish winner since the war. "The colt is very well, and like Imagine, has done everything we have asked of him," said O'Brien.
