Jack Hobbs draws clear of Storm The Stars in the Irish Derby© Photo Healy Racing
Odds on favourite Jack Hobbs was a decisive winner of the 150th Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby for trainer John Gosden and jockey William Buick.
The son of multiple Group One winner Halling was only having his fifth career start and had only been beaten by one horse - Golden Horn - in the Dante and the Epsom Derby. He was sent off the 10/11 favourite to account for his seven rivals in this Classic.
William Buick, in the Godolphin silks, settled his charge in third as Storm The Stars led from Giovanni Canaletto
The latter came off the bridle at the three pole as Jack Hobbs eased into second on his inside. Turning into the home straight and it was evident that Buick had plenty of horse under him as he hunted down Storm The Stars who was hard ridden.
When the button was pressed over a furlong out, he strode on powerfully and hit the line five lengths up on Storm The Stars (10/1). Giovanni Canaletto was a further five and a half lengths away in third at 8/1.
William Buick said: "It went as I hoped the race but listen he's a very good horse. When you ride a horse like this they make the job so much easier. He's still improving. He has come a long way in a short space of time. He's a serious horse.
"He stays a mile and a half. He'd be as effective at a mile and a quarter. As you saw there he has got a great turn of foot. We went a fairly steady gallop there and he picked up well off it. He's going to be a force to be reckoned with."
John Gosden said: "He did it in good style. He got a nice split at the head of the straight and then William waited with him which was right. You don't want to start pushing too soon. This old track takes some getting but I love the way he finished his race out.
"Quite frankly it's solid Epsom form, the second has run a blinder and was third to us at Epsom so there's nothing wrong with the form, truly run race.
"He's bred by Willie Carson and I loved the horse when I saw him. He's turned out well.
"We'll put him away now and aim at the Prix Niel at Longchamp and go to the Arc. We'll just try and have two more runs this year, he needs a holiday now this boy. He's big, rangy and quite light-framed and he just needs to fill out.
"I'd love to run him in the Arc this year with the three-year-old weight allowance."
This was John Gosden's first Irish Derby success and his third Classic of 2015 following on from Golden Horn in the Epsom Derby and Star Of Seville in the French Oaks.
Godolphin's last Irish Derby victory came with Balanchine in 1994.
Paddy Power cut Jack Hobbs from 12/1 to 8/1 for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe while BoyleSports have him at 10/1.
Storm The Stars was cut for the Ladbrokes St Leger. The sponsor has him at 4/1 from 6/1 while BoyleSports shortened him from 8s to 4/1.
The crowd figure at the Curragh today was 25,255 - some 2,000 up on last year's figure.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
