Redemption for Benvenuto Cellini in the Irish Derby

Benvenuto Cellini’s Irish Derby redemption arrived in emphatic fashion on Sunday, as the Frankel colt erased the memory of his chaotic Epsom disappointment with a dominant display at the Curragh. The Ballydoyle trainee, sent off at 7/4, led home a clean sweep for Aidan O’Brien, completing a one-two-three in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and securing the trainer’s fourth consecutive victory in the race. After missing the break and conceding early ground, the Chester Vase winner recovered smoothly to see off stablemate Christmas Day by a length and three-quarters, with Pierre Bonnard a neck further back in third.

A flawed Epsom lesson learned

The path to Curragh glory began with a catalogue of misfortune at Epsom three weeks prior. Benvenuto Cellini was controversially declared a non-runner after stalls complications left him with a leg trapped on a shelf when the gates opened, compounded by the slow ground that exposed his lack of experience in such conditions. Ryan Moore, who opted to stick with the Frankel son rather than switch to Epsom hero Christmas Day, admitted the circumstances were “an unusual set of circumstances,” noting that the ground’s quirks at Epsom forced an uncharacteristic tactical approach. “It was the only time I’ve ridden in the Derby when we haven’t stayed on the far side,” Moore reflected. “With the ground the way it was, he had no hope.”

The setback, however, sharpened the colt’s focus. Moore highlighted the horse’s “beautiful mover” qualities and insisted his temperament remained intact, despite the stalls mishap and the interference from a rival’s erratic behaviour. “Slowly those things are getting ironed out,” the jockey noted. “Hopefully he’ll continue to learn and do things better.” The Curragh’s firmer surface and Moore’s decision to keep faith with Benvenuto Cellini—rather than pivot to Christmas Day—proved pivotal, as the colt’s class shone through when conditions suited him.

O’Brien’s Curragh dynasty rolls on

For O’Brien, the victory marked his 12th Irish Derby triumph and his fourth in a row, further cementing Ballydoyle’s stranglehold on the Classic. The win extended a remarkable streak in a race where the trainer has become synonymous with success, blending youth with experience in a way few stables can match. Benvenuto Cellini’s performance, particularly after his Epsom ordeal, underscored the yard’s ability to bounce back from setbacks and deliver when it matters.

The one-two-three finish also reinforced the depth of O’Brien’s squad, with Christmas Day and Pierre Bonnard completing the podium. The former, who claimed Epsom glory, could only manage second, while Bonnard’s neck back in third hinted at the competitive edge within the Ballydoyle ranks. Raaheeb, previously unbeaten, finished fourth, adding to the sense that O’Brien’s current crop possesses both quality and resilience.

What next for Benvenuto Cellini?

Moore’s post-race comments suggest the focus will now shift to refining the colt’s racecraft, particularly his stalls exits and early positioning. The jockey’s admission that Epsom’s conditions forced an unorthodox approach—”we made a mistake” in conceding ground—points to a learning curve that could be smoothed with experience. “He’s still a little bit babyish,” Moore observed, “but there’s nothing wrong with his temperament.”

With the ground at the Curragh proving more forgiving than Epsom’s bog, Benvenuto Cellini’s future looks bright. Whether he targets the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes or remains in Ireland for the autumn remains to be seen, but his performance suggests he has the pedigree to compete at the highest level. For now, redemption is complete—and O’Brien’s Derby machine rolls on.