As many as ten Aidan O'Brien trainees have their names inscribed on the scroll of honour of the Dubai Duty Free-sponsored Irish Derby, whose latest renewal at The Curragh is scheduled for Saturday, June 28^th, at 5:30 p.m. local time (10:00 p.m. in India). The race is worth the enormous sum of €1,250,000 (a shade over Rs.10 crores), with the winner's share being €725,000 (almost Rs. 6 crores).

Seven of those O'Brien victories were gained in consecutive years from 2006 to 2012 and it was something of a surprise when Jim Bolger's Trading Leather proved too good for the former's favoured challengers in 2013, with the odds-on Ruler Of The World finishing a tame fifth. With four of the seven three-year-olds declared for the 2014 running, including recent Qipco Epsom Derby hero, Australia (by Galileo), hailing from O'Brien's Ballydoyle Stables, it would be yet another shocker if the prize went elsewhere.

A glance through the records shows that sixteen horses have recorded the Epsom Derby-Irish Derby double – will Australia be the seventeenth? As everyone familiar with the international turf is surely aware, this neat chestnut with the impeccable pedigree has been rated by O'Brien as his best ever, and that is a mighty accolade. And yet he faces a distinct challenge from the horse who finished closest to him at Epsom, the Roger Varian-schooled invader, Kingston Hill (by Mastercraftsman), although it must be remembered that it's been twenty years since a resident of a British stable found its way to the winner's enclosure in this race.

Under ordinary circumstances, Australia would be a "shoo-in" and bookmakers have priced him accordingly, offering a niggardly 4 to 11. Kingston Hill, his only credible opponent on known form, is a best-priced 4 to 1 and his trainer is "desperate for rain". After days of warmth, the weather has turned uncertain, with very different views being expressed by weather forecasters regarding the amount of precipitation on the horizon. That has placed a heavy burden on the Curragh management in relation to the amount of water, if any, needed to be applied to ensure the ideal "good going".

If the ground is sloppy, Australia will be at a disadvantage. On the other hand, going adjudged to be on the "fast side of good" would definitely not suit Kingston Hill. There is no change in the riding arrangements for this pair, with Joseph O'Brien and Andrea Atzeni renewing their rivalry.

Ballydoyle routinely runs more than one runner in the big races, and this year sends out a trio to accompany Australia. This does not reflect adversely on that runner's ability; rather it provides the team with an opportunity to pick up some valuable prize money as well as some capital appreciation. Second place is worth the juicy amount of €237,500 (Rs.1,95,00,000) while the third-placed runner would bank €112,500 (Rs.92,25,000) for his connections!

All the remaining O'Brien runners are coming off distant efforts in the Epsom Derby. Geoffrey Chaucer (by Montjeu), a tailed off last at Epsom on a track he seemed to dislike, is sure to prefer local conditions and gets Seamie Heffernan in the saddle, replacing Ryan Moore. He is at 16 to 1. Kingfisher (by Galileo), at 66 to 1, looks like the probable pace-setter with Colm O'Donoghue to guide him. The "vibes" around Orchestra (by Galileo) earlier in the season suggest that he is a talented individual, and should he return to his best under Michael Hussey, will make his 33 to 1 quote appear generous.

The locally-based Dermot Weld also fields an Epsom loser in the shape of Fascinating Rock (by Fastnet Rock), eighth on that occasion with an effort a trifle short of his best. Perhaps "home ground" might help this decent sort to display better form – he will certainly need to if he is to snare the prize.

The only contender left to come under the scanner is the interesting Ponfeigh (by Teofilo). Some might raise their eyebrows at the prospect of this colt running for the third time this month – but if he is able to record a similar 20-point jump in rating as he achieved last time, he will be right in the mix. Trainer John Oxx is too experienced to pitch in an utterly hopeless contender, and there has to be a good chance that Ponfeigh will run creditably, although the grey is likely to find it hard to emulate the efforts of the Oxx-trained Sinndar and Alamshar, who annexed this race in the early part of this century.