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Epsom Derby news: Stone Age on the hunt after Leopardstown trial win

Aidan O'Brien's 2022 Cazoo Epsom Derby hopes took a slight dent with the setback to Luxembourg but such is his strength in depth that Stone Age roared into favouritism with a huge Leopardstown win.

Aidan O'Brien's Stone Age chipped a massive chunk out of the Cazoo Epsom Derby market after a runaway win in the Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown.

It has been a tumultuous week for trainer Aidan O'Brien who saw victories for Changingoftheguard, Star Of India and United Nations that brought them into the Derby reckoning while the Irish trainer also saw his Luxembourg ruled out of the Classic due to a setback.

So, three-year-old colt Stone Age now heads the market for the Derby on June 4 with the horse co-owned by Peter Brant and, Mrs John Magnier and Michael Tabor.

Stone Age made all the running at Leopardstown, opening up a five a and a half lengths leads in the final furlong and never looking like being headed.

O'Brien said: "He's lovely, he's a high cruiser, he's tactical and he keeps going - he keeps pushing it out.
"He came forward lovely and we thought he'd come forward a bit more from today. The plan was to give him two runs and because he was a maiden he started in Navan and then came here.
"We always felt he was very good and we weren't really worrying about winning a maiden (last year).
"He ran over seven furlongs in a Group One - he's a high tempo horse."
Given Stone Age looked to be going better the further he went, O'Brien has no worries about the unique tests of the Derby.
He added: "We didn't think it (Epsom) would be a problem. His two runs this year were left-handed. He usually steps quick out of the gate, he's a high cruiser and he's very happy to get a lead, which he was going to do today if someone was going to take him.
"He has that class, he's able to pick up and then he pushes it out all the way to the line. He never looks, in any of his races, to be getting weak at the line.
"He's a big hardy horse, he's not a wimp now."
The Epsom Derby is considered the premier English Classic and takes places on Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 4.

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