Aidan O'Brien's hopes of leading Istabraq in after a fourth Champion Hurdle win at Cheltenham in March may have been thwarted by foot-and-mouth disease, but the 32-year-old master trainer put that disappointment behind him to go on to his most successful season.

When Ballingarry landed the Criterium International in France last month, O'Brien was recording his 23rd Goup One victory of the season - a new world record. That milestone included his first Epsom Derby victory with Galileo and a first Breeders' Cup success with the unbeaten two-year-old Johannesburg. Mick Kinnane also guided Galileo to an easy Irish Derby win and a thrilling victory over Fantastic Light in the King George and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot.

O'Brien, who also picked up the Champion Trainer award in Britain, may now set his sights on winning the Kentucky Derby in May with Johannesburg, a race no European-based trainer has ever won.