Stone Age strides to victory under Ryan Moore© Photo Healy Racing
Stone Age blitzed his rivals in the Group 3 Derby Trial Stakes and put himself firmly in the picture for the Epsom showpiece on June 4th.
Without a win in four starts last year, but placed at Group 2 level, the Galileo colt made the breakthrough when upped in trip to a mile-and-a-quarter at Navan in March
Strongly fancied to follow-up this afternoon, the Aidan O'Brien trained bay was sent off the 10/11 favourite from early shows of 15/8.
Sent straight to the front by Ryan Moore, Stone Age went clear a furlong and a half from home and extended his advantage all the way to the line, coming home five-and-a-half lengths to the good. Glory Daze (18/1) got up close home to take second under Ronan Whelan for Andy Oliver, while French Claim (11/4) was a neck back in third.
"He's lovely, he's a high cruiser, he's tactical and he keeps going, he keeps pushing it out," said O'Brien, who was recording his ninth winner of the week with Ryan Moore.
"He came forward lovely and we thought he'd come forward a bit more from today. The plan was to give him two runs, because he was a maiden he started in Navan and then came here.
"We always felt he was very good and we weren't really worrying about winning a maiden (last year).
"He ran over seven in a Group 1, he's a high tempo horse."
When asked how he would handle Epsom he added: "We didn't think it would be a problem. His two runs this year were left-handed. He usually steps quick out of the gate, he's a high cruiser and he's very happy to get a lead which he was going to do today if someone was going to take him.
"He has that class, he's able to pick up and then he pushes it out all the way to the line. He never looks, in any of his races, to be getting weak at the line.
"He's a big hardy horse, he's not a wimp now."
When asked about assessing the pecking order of his Derby trial winners: "It's impossible really. They were running in their trials individually to see what was going to happen.
"Because all the races were at different times they were all on different work schedules.
"Ryan will talk to the lads and hopefully they'll come up with a solution to the whole thing. That's usually what happens.
"You'd have to be very happy, any of the ones that had two runs they came forward from their first to their second. We thought this fella would come forward again."
When asked about the Derby trip for Stone Age he said: "He has plenty of pace. Everyday he has run he's always going to the line. He never seems to be stopping, he keeps pushing it out to the line."
Stone Age is now the 3/1 (from 12s) with Paddy Power for the Epsom Derby.
STEWARDS REPORTS
L.F. Roche, rider of Great Max trained by M.D. O'Callaghan, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount ran keen.
K.J. Manning, rider of Manu Et Corde trained by J. S. Bolger, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount got checked after the start of this race.
R.L. Moore, rider of Stone Age trained by A.P.O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount jumped left from the starting stalls.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
