After months of conjecture, the Epsom Derby puzzle was finally and memorably resolved last weekend as Harzand famously took centre stage for Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen.

For Weld this victory was the most appropriate fulfillment of his long standing ambition to win the greatest classic of all. As the man who became the first Northern Hemisphere trainer to win the Melbourne Cup, the only European to have captured a leg of the American triple crown and the first Irish trainer to make his mark in Hong Kong, Weld has been an international pioneer without equal in the world of racing.

Until now, Casual Conquest’s third in 2008 was the best he had managed in the Derby but victory was finally achieved with a colt who has made striking but understated progress through the ranks this term. Harzand’s wide margin maiden triumph at Cork over Easter suggested he was potentially special and a Ballysax Stakes win the following month confirmed that promise.

Weld duly produced the Sea The Stars colt in the form of his life to answer every question and more at Epsom. A late scare which saw him pull off a shoe on Saturday morning was a long way from ideal but Harzand looked most assured and comfortable at all stages of the race. Indeed particularly impressive was the manner in which he pulled out more when pressed by Ballydoyle’s US Army Ranger inside the last furlong.

Meanwhile, Pat Smullen rode nothing short of a perfect race to secure a career-defining triumph. This was success was both momentous and well deserved for Ireland’s multiple champion flat jockey who for countless years has shown why he can easily be considered one of the very finest riders in the world.

An Irish Derby bid now looks likely for Harzand and among those that could be in opposition there are his compatriots US Army Ranger and Idaho who made it a clean sweep for the raiders.

HONOURABLE EFFORT

The Derby result duly confirmed that US Army Ranger was the pick of Aidan O’Brien’s middle distance colts and he posted a most honourable effort in defeat. He found himself at the rear of the field turning for home but worked wonders to press Harzand for the lead inside the last furlong only to find the latter too strong.

On just his third outing, US Army Ranger has run a superb race and, like the winner, he can be expected to progress further through the second half of the season. A rematch between the pair at the Curragh in a few weeks is eagerly awaited.

Aidan O’Brien did enjoy better luck in the previous day’s Epsom Oaks where Minding became the first filly in 14 years to complete the 1000 Guineas-Oaks double. A hard race in the Irish 1000 Guineas just 12 days previously and the mile and a half trip on slow ground promised to provide Minding with a stern examination of her credentials but she came through this examination in the style of a true champion.

Indeed the manner in which she recovered from a torrid passage early in the straight makes her display all the more meritorious. She is a filly of rare quality.

On the domestic front, O’Brien’s Ascot Gold Cup hopeful Order Of St George, on his first outing since his brilliant Irish St Leger win last autumn, signaled his wellbeing with an assured comeback win in the Savel Beg Stakes last Friday. The same card also saw the trainer’s War Decree make a winning debut in the first seven furlongs two-year-old maiden of the season. War Decree won nicely and it was interesting to head connections talking in terms of him dropping back in trip for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. It is perhaps no coincidence that War Command won the same two races back in 2013.