“We tried to make that race faster, stronger and more competitive, to teach him as much as we could, to teach him and to expose him as much as we could. We knew he would not get a lot of opportunities to run before the cup.

“We did our best to teach him. We hope he has enough class and the ability to handle it.”

Although his opponents Tiger Moth or top weight Anthony Van Dyke have not run more than 2400 meters, O’Brien is optimistic that the tough test of the cup will not find them.

“They both seem to get a mile and a half, and they seem to be able to get more. Anthony van Dyke won the Epsom Derby and finished second in the Irish Derby. Tiger Moth finished second in the Irish Derby and then won the next one and a half mile against the old horses.”

O’Brien Sr. has yet to win a trophy, but his son, Joseph, a former jockey and now coach, succeeded in his first attempt with a rekindling for Lloyd Williams three years ago.

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“Joseph, we’re happy to have won it, and we’re happy to win it again.

“We’ve been trying for a long time to succeed in this, we don’t, we’ve been close a few times, but only so much.

“We’ve trying our best, but sometimes it’s not intentional. You have to accept it and move on and try again next time.

“Someone wins it [we] Rejoice for them. We were on the moon, especially when Joseph won it, because as an owner, coach, jockey, breeder, agent, we realize how difficult it can be for anyone. “