Last year’s Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud hero Los Angeles made a winning start to his three-year-old campaign at Leopardstown on Sunday, taking the Group 3 Derby Trial Stakes.
A son of 2012 Epsom Derby winner Camelot, Los Angeles is a full-brother to Black Type performers Be Happy and Hector De Maris, who both showed their best form over twelve furlongs.
It was a comfortable victory for the Aidan O'Brien-trained Los Angeles, patiently ridden by Wayne Lordan. He began to make his challenge with two furlongs to run, hitting the front at the furlong marker and although the colt could only manage a one length winning margin, it was clear that a step up in trip would be no issue.
"Seamus (Heffernan) rode him in Tipperary on his first run and we ran another nice Justify horse in the same race and it turned out to be a good maiden," said Chris Armstrong, for Ballydoyle.
"Then he stepped up again when he went to France for the Group One. Ryan (Moore) had a tough choice that day between the horse he rode and then Christophe (Soumillon) got on this fella.
"He's come along with every run. He's got the pedigree – he's by Camelot so he'll get the stamina. Everything is there for him. When we step him up again to a mile and a half the distance will help him and he's going to come on a lot fitness wise for it.
"He's a big horse. He's a beautiful mover, he's got the right mind as you'll have seen when he walked round the paddock beforehand when he was absolutely chilled.
"He's got the same attitude at home. Camelot obviously went round there no problem and a lot of his good sire traits are in this horse. He can travel away but I think the big improvement will be when he goes up to the mile and a half.
"It's his first run in a year and he still hasn't really been tightened up but once he goes up in trip he'll go on again."
Paddy Power shortened Los Angeles from 12/1 to 8/1 for the Epsom Derby.
