Aidan O’Brien: Australia Epsom Derby win seals legend of trainer

Magnier’s wife Sue – who owns Australia with Coolmore backers Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, plus Malaysian businessman Teo Ah Khing, registers the names for the top Ballydoyle horses, sometimes waiting patiently for the right animal to match a grand moniker.

And so the Australian, Vincent’s daughter, chose Australia and he followed Galileo, High Chaparral (2002), Camelot and last year’s victor Ruler Of The World as Epsom champions.

“We have a business and the stud in Australia (in the Hunter Valley) so I suppose the idea was that we’d wait to have a good horse to give the name to and he might stand as a stallion there,” said Magnier.

This fifth win in the big Epsom race for O’Brien was made all the more special that his son Joseph was the rider, triumphing for a second time two years after Camelot.

“We’ve made no secret about what we think about this horse and I knew I was on the best one so just wanted to give him a chance to do himself justice,” said Joseph.

At nearly 6ft tall, weight is an issue for the pencil-thin rider, but he can deliver on the big occasion. It must be in the genes.

When jockey and horse made their way to the start, a familiar face cheekily waved enthusiastically at the pair.

Rider, game face on, ignored the gesture at first. When it happened a second time, he broke into laughter.

Relaxed, happy, no fears. Why would you when the old man has made sure everything is in place?