AIDAN O’BRIEN saw one of his squad of superstars smashed for the Derby after Ryan Moore pulled off a ‘ridiculous’ winning ride.
The softly-spoken jockey was branded ‘best in the world’ by punters after steering Mount Kilimanjaro to a breathtaking victory at Chester.
Sent off the evens money favourite from stall five, Moore looked content to sit at the back and bide his time on the Coolmore-owned colt.
Oisin Murphy on 11-4 High Stock and Tom Marquand on 25-1 Great David blazed a trail in front.
And they looked to have stolen a march on Mount Kilimanjaro as Moore got lower and lower in the saddle.
Those who took the short price about the fav will have had a few nervy moments as it looked like he wasn’t picking up.
He hit 5-1 in-running as it appeared he wasn’t finding much at all despite Moore’s urgings.
But in truth it turned out to be an expertly-judged ride by O’Brien’s right-hand man.
He swept round the outside late and the writing was on the wall a furlong out.
Breezing home, Mount Kilimanjaro went onto win by a neck officially but it was a cosy success.
So, will the Derby be next?
Well, bookies Betfair and Paddy Power cut him to 20-1 from 33s for the Epsom showpiece.
Moore didn’t sound too keen on going to Epsom afterwards and the French Derby – the Prix Du Jockey Club – has previously been mentioned as a target.
Wherever he ends up, though, this was really all about another Moore masterclass.
Punters absolutely lapped up his brilliance, with one commenting: “Ryan Moore is the best jockey in the world, no one comes close.
“That’s ridiculous on Mount Kilimanjaro.”
Another said: “Just watched a masterful and beautifully executed ride by Ryan Moore in the Dee Stakes at Chester. A sublime professional.”
While a third posted on X: “Ryan Moore a cheat code for Chester, ridiculous.”
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