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| Staff Writer |
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After finishing third in the Derby, Los Angeles improved his performance at the Curragh on June 30, winning the Irish equivalent with jockey Ryan Moore.
Trained by Aidan O'Brien, the colt had previously come in second at Epsom, trailing behind Ambiente Friendly by three and a quarter lengths.
However, Los Angeles turned the tables this time, securing O'Brien's 16th victory in the Irish Derby. Taking the lead early in the straight, Moore guided Los Angeles to a win, fending off the strong-finishing Sunway by three-quarters of a length, with Ambiente Friendly finishing another half-length back in third.
O'Brien said after the race: "We think he'll get better. He's a big hardy horse. He looks like he is a baby but he was a Group One winner at two as well and he keeps progressing. We are really looking forward to him.
"Ryan said that they went hard and that he ended up getting there a little bit earlier than he wanted. He was very impressed with him and I think Ryan was a bit surprised with the class that he showed.
"We thought coming here that he was a horse who was going to get a mile and a half and turn into a Leger horse, but listening to Ryan he's a very classy horse too. That leaves a lot of options."
Trainer David Menuisier was pleased with Sunway and said: "That's the third Classic I've lost by less than a length this season so I'm used to it now!
"I'm delighted with the horse, we've always thought the world of him. People lost faith in the horse and today he vindicated himself and showed that he's a really classy act."
Trainer James Fanshawe felt Ambiente Friendly was beaten for lack of stamina and said: "He traveled really well to the two pole and just got outstayed in the last furlong.
"The winner and the second are both very good horses. I still think we'll probably be dropping back in trip next time."