Camelot – What Could Have Been

At the start of the 2012 season, all eyes were on Camelot. Being a then unbeaten G1-winning Champion 2YO, there were high expectation coming into the year. 

The champions started strong with the speed to win a QIPCO 2000 Guineas and the class and acceleration to win the Epsom Derby by 5 lengths. Only the third horse in history to win both the Derby and Guineas in the same year, following in the footsteps of Hall of Famer Nijinsky, Nashwan and Sea the Stars.

“He was the perfect racehorse, a beautiful horse with a terrific action. Speed, class and a super-intelligent horse to go with it – he had it all.”

Aidan O’Brien

Camelot then went back to his home ground in Ireland to win the Irish Derby which added to his clean sheet.

After a perfect start of the season, the Ballydoyle colt went for the triple crown. Something which hadn’t been done since Nijinsky and Lester Piggott 42 years prior. Camelot was favourite going into the St Leger, Britain’s oldest classic which was first run in 1776.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien blamed himself as “We expected him to win and if I thought they were going to go that steady I would have had a pacemaker in or two pacemakers. But that’s my fault.”

Camelot, ridden by O’Brien’s son Joseph were denied of making history by Godolphin’s 25-1 shot Encke.

From that point, Camelot was beaten once more before the start of the 2013 season. The pair won once more in a group 3 at the Curragh before running twice before retiring to Coolmoore Stud.

Camelot still remains at Coolmoore Stud where he stands for €75,000. His best prodigy to date would be G1 winning Luxembourg who was Timeforms top rated 3YO.