Epsom Derby 2022: Stone Age Profile

Aidan O'Brien has a strong team once more for The Derby but it will be headed by Leopadstown Derby Trial victor STONE AGE. He was a fine winner that day and will now head to the Epsom Derby on Saturday 4th June.

Stone Age

Sire: Galileo

Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

Runs: 7

Wins: 2

Notable Race Wins: Leopardstown Derby Trial (Group 3)

Stone Age was not an immediately impressive juvenile, in fact he remained a maiden throughout his two year old campaign. Despite this, it was clear to see this was a horse with some ability as with each runner he clearly progressed and learned more about his job. On his first start he was leading but jumped the path, a clear sign of first race jitters and inexperience. In his next start he was beaten just a neck by Buckaroo, a rival we now know is quite smart himself, over a mile and half a furlong at Galway. He was just done for a bit of speed here and the story repeated in his next start when he put his head down and tried to hold onto his lead but was just unable to get past Atomic Jones in the end, losing by a head this time. 

Dropped in trip to seven furlongs next time out on heavy ground at Saint Cloud, he was not seen to best effect and eventually finished sixth after never really looking comfortable under Ryan Moore. His final start of the season came at the same track and with similar underfoot conditions, but this time he was stepped up in trip to a mile and two. This brought back into play his stamina and he was a good second at odds of 10/1 under Christophe Soumillon.

Reappearing as a three year old, Stone Age clearly had gotten stronger over the winter and in his seasonal debut win at Navan he was sent off 1/3 and won as a 1/3 shot should. He made all under Ryan Moore over a mile and two and the manner in which he strung out his rivals in behind indicated this could be a classic O'Brien improver as they embark on their Classic campaign. 

This impression was confirmed when he produced pretty much a carbon copy against better rivals in the Leopardstown Derby Trial. He once again led them all the way and nothing could get close to Stone Age once Ryan Moore asked for his finishing effort. The jockey did report Stone Age had jinked left coming out of the starting stalls which could be a concern come the big day in June, but he is undoubtedly the leading Ballydoyle contender and could emulate Serpentine for the same stable with an all-the-way win at Epsom.