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O'Brien hails Derby winner6th June 2010
If not for seven-length Investec Derby winner Workforce it would have been another Aidan O'Brien-dominated finish.
O'Brien had only three runners at Epsom this year rather than a mob-handed approach and his select team did him proud to finish second, fourth and fifth - but not in the order he might have expected.
Particularly galling for the trainer must have been the decision to run Cape Blanco in Sunday's French Derby despite the fact he beat Workforce in such convincing fashion in the Dante Stakes.
O'Brien reported 9-4 favourite Jan Vermeer to have lost two shoes en-route to finishing fourth, just ahead of Midas Touch, but it was his 100-1 pacemaker At First Sight who surprisingly fared best, at one point establishing a huge lead and managing to scramble home from Godolphin's Rewilding to hold on to the runner-up spot.
O'Brien said: "Jan Vermeer lost both his front shoes, but the second horse stays really well.
"You've got to be pleased with that, they were all there. The winner looked exceptional."
At First Sight's rider Seamie Heffernan said: "I was second on one of the favourites (Fame And Glory) last year and I was second on an outsider today. My experience of the course helped and they just let me go.
"But Aidan O'Brien trains him, you know, so he's going to be good."
Jan Vermeer's rider Johnny Murtagh added: "He probably didn't handle the track. I was right upsides Ryan (Moore), but when he quickened up I couldn't go with him.
"I was never really confident at any stage and he never gave me a good feel."
Frankie Dettori split the O'Brien pack on Rewilding in third and the Italian said: "It was a great run - he did not have the gears to go with the winner, but stayed on well and will be a lovely St Leger horse."
Godolphin were pleased with the performances of their runners Al Zir and Buzzword in sixth and eighth respectively, connections believing the former to have a particularly bright future given his inexperience.
Lingfield Derby winner Bullet Train held a prominent early position but eventually came home last, completing a disappointing couple of days for trainer Henry Cecil after his pair Aviate and Timepiece failed to perform in the Oaks.
Cecil said: "He came down the hill at Lingfield, but he didn't come down the hill today. I'll have to look at him, but I can't see anything wrong with him and there are no other excuses really."
Just in front of Bullet Train was Ted Spread, whose jockey Michael Hills reported: "It was a very solidly run race and he has run a good race. From the top of the hill it was a man's race and the best horse won."
John Gosden said of Azmeel, who was third-last: "Our boy was too keen early on and didn't relax until it was too late.
"That said, it wouldn't have mattered compared to the winner."
A tuba player at the 2010 Epsom Derby