Global Weekly Review - 28.06.15

Jack Hobbs, the legendary England cricketer, scored 5,410 runs in Tests between 1907 and 1930 to become one of the most celebrated sportsmen of the early 20th Century.

Now there is a modern-day Hobbs to get excited about -- and Longchamp's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October may well see his 'coronation' in Europe's premier all-aged middle-distance contest.

The famous batsman's equine namesake, owned by Godolphin and partners, proved on Saturday that he has both the quality and fortitude to carve a similarly spectacular career as a big-hitter on the racecourse with a hugely impressive victory in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

He won by five lengths in the Godolphin royal blue colours, having been given a most confident and mature ride by William Buick.

In almost an exact replica of the Investec Derby result at Epsom on June 6, the Halling colt beat the William Haggas-trained Storm The Stars, drawing away at the finish, with Giovanni Canaletto a further five and a half lengths adrift in third, and Kilimanjaro half a length back in fourth.

Jack Hobbs became the first colt trained in Britain to land the Irish Derby in 22 years, and he gave his trainer John Gosden the notable achievement of having completed the Anglo-Irish Derby double in the same year with different horses.

Gosden saddled Golden Horn to beat stablemate Jack Hobbs by three and a half lengths at Epsom, with four and a half lengths back to Storm The Stars in third, and Giovanni Canaletto fourth. They came home in the same order at the Curragh, only with Golden Horn an absentee.

"It goes to show there is nothing wrong with the Epsom form," a jubilant Gosden said after the race. "I have loved this horse (Jack Hobbs) since the day I first saw him. He will have two more runs this year, the Prix Niel and the Arc," the trainer added.

Jack Hobbs was bred by Willie and Elaine Carson at their Minster Stud near Cirencester, Gloucestershire. As a jockey, Carson rode two Irish Derby winners, Troy (1979) and Salsabil (1990).

Buick described the win as "massive" aboard Jack Hobbs in the colours of his retaining stable. Back in March, Buick also won the world's richest race, the $10m Dubai World Cup at Meydan, on His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed's Prince Bishop.

"This Irish Derby win means so much," Buick said. "I had a very good run throughout just in behind the leader, and when I got clear of Joseph (O'Brien, Giovanni Canaletto) turning in, I waited for a moment with my horse.

"He had plenty left at the finish. He was looking around in front near the line," Buick added.

Gosden has described the colt as "rangy" and one he expects to mature into a fine physical specimen at four and older.

The Irish Derby triumph capped a memorable day for Godolphin, who also had a winning treble at Windsor -- Human Nature, Balliol and Elhaame -- all ridden by James Doyle, a winner at Newmarket, Sound Reflection, ridden by visiting Sydney champion James McDonald, and also a victory for Dream Child at Deauville, partnered by Mickael Barzalona.

On Sunday, the amazing Treve took another step closer to becoming one of the 'greats' of European racing when winning the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in Paris, comfortably in the end from ever-reliable Flintshire.

She firmed as favourite to win an unprecedented third consecutive Arc in the autumn, but perhaps this year's Classic generation are emerging as the biggest obstacle in her path to further glory.