O'Brien seeks Derby history with Rekindling

A slice of racing history awaits Joseph O'Brien if Rekindling manages to win the Investec Derby on Saturday.

Not since Harry Wragg saddled Psidium to glory in 1961 has anyone managed to have ridden and trained winners of the most famous Flat race in the world.

Wragg was successful three times in the saddle, compared to two wins for O'Brien, who was forced to retire prematurely due to weight problems.

When he did call it a day at the tender age of 22, it came as no surprise as he was never going to enjoy, or rather endure, a long career in the saddle due to his sizeable frame.

However, having ridden another 28 Group One winners on top of his two in the Epsom Classic on Camelot and Australia, he managed to have an incredibly fruitful, albeit brief, career.

His father Aidan is the pre-eminent trainer of the day in Europe, so it is no shock O'Brien is already successful in his new career.

With a Group One win already in the bag through Intricately, the next aim is a Classic. And where better to start the trend than Epsom?

"I've never really thought about creating history or anything like that, to be honest," said the 24-year-old.

"When you train racehorses it's a 24-7 job, you don't really get much time to think of things like that. You can't allow yourself to, really, as you'd put too much pressure on yourself."

While Rekindling may be a 20-1 shot, he heads to Epsom with better credentials than many in an open year.

Indeed, he i s double the price of the Aidan O'Brien-trained Capri, who finished behind him in the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown in April.

Rekindling then finished fourth in the Dante at York on unsuitable ground, and O'Brien is of the belief there is nothing to lose by running in the great race.

He said: "When you have a horse like him who has won a trial in Ireland and run well in traditionally the best trial in England, you have to have a go at the Derby.

"You never know how many times in your career you will have a legitimate Derby horse, you might not get one again.

"One thing Rekindling has in his favour is experience. That's what he's got over those that have only had two or three runs.

"At the time of the Dante, a few people weren't that impressed with the form because the winner (Permian) looked exposed, but his form keeps on getting franked.

"On reflection, I thought our lad ran a good race at York. He was staying on again and did well to finish as well as he did because he didn't like the ground. He's in good form, so when you have a Derby horse you have to go for it.

"At the moment there is no stand-out contender and you wouldn't be surprised if there was a 20-1 winner, but you can guarantee after the race there'll be one.

"That's what the Derby does, it produces champions. Something will come out of the woodwork. This could be the year for a surprise and if it's ours, we'll be delighted."