Anthony Van Dyck wins the Derby to earn O'Brien's place in the record books | sport

It was typical for Aidan O'Brien to think, after a record seven wins at Saturday's Derby, to pay tribute to one of the team members who can not speak for himself. Galileo was the first winner of the O'Brien derby in 2001 and, thanks to Anthony Van Dyck's tight defeat of Madhmoon and Japan, he created three more.

"It's an intrinsic thing with determination," said O'Brien. "They have their heads down and it's something inside their minds. They will not give up and it is a very strange thing. "

It is unlikely that Anthony Van Dyck will be considered one of the best winners of the Derby. Time can show that he was not even the best horse in the race. The top five at home were separated by less than a length and the chance to run surely played a role. But determination was surely also a factor and Anthony Van Dyck had courage when it was necessary.

Seamie Heffernan was also an accomplished runner, who is surely the most successful runner in turf history. Although he has never been O'Brien's best jockey, he now has 30 Level 1 winners in Group 1, the highest quality sport. This was undoubtedly the culmination of his long career out of the spotlight and under the pressure of projectors.

Anthony Van Dyck still had a lot to do with just over two stadiums to run, with only four of the 13 riders behind him and definitely beaten.

Telecaster, completed for the race for £ 85,000 earlier in the week and the second favorite, quickly rejoined the teams as he moved slightly away past the two poles to finish last, just behind a other fancy runner, Bangkok. But Sir Dragonet, favorite 11-4, was looking to take the lead alongside another Irish rider trained at Madhmoon, with Japan, Broome and Mount Circus Maximus by Frankie Dettori at the scene.

Anthony Van Dyck quickly gained ground when Heffernan demanded an effort, but he had to switch to the right then, resolutely, to the left, in order to find enough room to deliver his last challenge. Heffernan and Anthony Van Dyck, upside down like his father, have entered the history book inside.

O & # 39; Brien is now successful as the sole owner of the Derby Winners Record, a remarkable achievement given the scale and competitiveness of the race since the days when Robert Robson, John Porter and Fred Darling won the clbadic (is as old as 1793 in the case of Robson). In addition to Galileo and Heffernan, he also paid tribute to his Ballydoyle team and the "guys" from Coolmore Stud who supply his horses, but O & # 39; Brien, an obsessional that leaves no detail without consideration. , worked to win every victory that comes in his own way.

His attention to detail was within everyone's reach in the paddock, as he brushed and saddled his seven riders in turn. And as O & # 39; Brien conceded thereafter, while it was not sure that Anthony Van Dyck was the best of his team, he had won a major test for the Clbadic at Lingfield earlier this month and deserved full place on the field.

"We do not put any of our Derby horses together [on the gallops] at home, "said O'Brien. "We are just trying to optimize them on their arrival at the racetrack. The boss [John Magnier of Coolmore Stud] always says that the Derby is the Holy Grail and that it is the backbone of the thoroughbred. This is the ultimate test, he tests them in every way. He tests their speed, endurance, agility and mentality. That's why we come here and try to compete each year, but it's very difficult. I am privileged to be part of a great team. "

Anthony Van Dyck should now be headed to the Irish Derby at Curragh later this month, when Madhmoon and several other Saturday riders could also be in the opposition again.

Madhmoon stumbled slightly at one point according to Chris Hayes, his jockey, and then arrived at the front a little earlier than he would have liked, but the big disappointments of the race were the main opponents of the British stables, the Irish yards providing the first six houses.

Hughie Morrison said that Telecaster "was working flat" while Andrew Balding, whose Bangkok operation represented the King Power Racing operation founded by the late Leicester City president, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, said the foal "n & # He had not acted on the ripples.

The pbadage to the flat expanse of The Curragh may well be enough for one of the other rans to get the better of Anthony Van Dyck next time. The day it mattered most, however, he arrived at the front line.