Aidan O’Brien has another strong team for the Investec Derby meeting at Epsom on May 31 and June 1.

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AIDAN O’Brien and the Coolmore team continued their dominance in feature races in a terrific week that saw them land the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, 1000 Guineas and Chester Vase.

Magna Grecia, ridden by O’Brien’s son Donnacha O’Brien, secured the trainer’s 10^th win in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas when scoring by two and a half lengths at Newmarket on Saturday.

The trainer completed the lucrative 2000 and 1000 Guineas double when landing the fillies’ event with Hermosa who provided Wayne Lordan with his second win in the race which he won on Winter in 2017.

The St James’s Palace Stakes over one mile at Royal Ascot is the likely target for Magna Grecia, whose connections are unlikely to step him up in trip for the Investec Derby at Epsom on June 1.

However Epsom is very much the target for Hermosa who impressed the team with the manner of her victory in the 1000 Guineas, which O’Brien won for the fifth time.

”I’m delighted,” O’Brien said. “She did very well over the winter and ran an unbelievable race in the fillies’ mile here last year and she is very uncomplicated. She is tough, like her sister [the Group 1 winner Hydrangea]. She stays well. Wayne gave her a great ride. It is just a privilege and it’s a credit to everyone at home.”

“Physically, she has changed a lot over the winter and really grew into a three-year-old. She is a very tough filly.”

Lordan added: “I rode her aggressively, because she stays really well but she saves a little bit for herself.

“I would not think she would have any problem staying the Oaks trip. I actually fancied her. I thought she had good form. She is a filly who will stay and she saves enough.

“I knew, riding her here, if you jump out and go real forward and they start lining up behind you, it would take a really good one to get by her. It is great to be riding in these races and to get a win is fantastic.”

O’Brien’s memorable week continued with Sir Dragonet’s wide-margin victory in the Chester Vase which saw him surge to the head of the betting for the Investec Derby.

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