Aidan O'Brien's strong run of form continues

Drumbeat bolstered Aidan O'Brien's Classic squad for next season, earning odds of 14-1 for the Derby after clinching the Criterium de Saint-Cloud at the Paris circuit on Sunday.

The Wootton Bassett colt – who romped home in the Zetland Stakes at Newmarket on his previous outing – found himself hemmed in at a pivotal moment under Ryan Moore, before bursting through a gap to seize the lead approaching a furlong and a half from home.

From that point, he proved too powerful for stablemate Shakespeare and Christophe Soumillon, who finished two lengths adrift in second, with Joseph O'Brien's Jesus Green a further length behind in third.

The 9-10 favourite delivered a seventh victory in the race for O'Brien, though it marked a first for Moore, following previous triumphs for Soumillon aboard Pierre Bonnard 12 months earlier and Los Angeles in 2023.

"He showed a lot of quality and is a very straightforward horse," Moore told Sky Sports Racing.

"He had the pace to go and take the gap and he quickened up well."

It was a second Group One success of the weekend for O'Brien, having also triumphed in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster on Saturday with Giant Sequoia.

"He is a lovely horse, handled the ground and got the trip well," said O'Brien.

"He probably learned plenty today which was great so we couldn't be happier. He is a lovely horse to think about for next year."

O'Brien came agonisingly close to securing another two-year-old Group One victory in the Criterium International, as Master Man, under jockey Anthony Crastus, led from start to finish to pip favourite Capability Brown and Aix La Chapelle at the post.

The Richard Chotard-trained Goken colt was building on his triumph in a conditions race at ParisLongchamp during Arc weekend.

The winning rider said: "I was very confident with him today as he won very easily at Longchamp and with the track very soft here I knew he would like this type of ground. He is improving and will be an even better horse next year.

"I have been second in Prix du Jockey Club and the Grand Prix de Paris, but never won a Group One in France so I am very happy today."

However, O'Brien did manage to claim a top-level double on the day as Queenstown, brilliantly piloted from the front by Moore, held off Sir Mark Prescott's Consent to take the Prix Royal-Oak.