Constitution River

The first win came at Galway in late July 2025, and by the account of jockey Wayne Lordan, it was far from polished. Constitution River was green — distracted, looking around, not fully concentrating — which in racing terms means the horse was still learning what it was supposed to be doing. The fact that it won anyway told you plenty. Three weeks later at The Curragh, Ireland's most prestigious flat track, it did it again, winning what is known as the Futurity — one of the most important races for young horses in the country. Lordan described how the horse quickened well when asked, which is the single most important quality a racehorse can have: the ability to accelerate on demand when the race gets serious.

Then came the setback. O'Brien has since confirmed that Constitution River had a mishap after that Curragh win and missed the remainder of last season entirely. That explains a gap of roughly seven months between its last race and its anticipated return — a long time for a horse that had been building real momentum. Crucially, the trainer's tone is not one of concern but of quiet excitement. Roger Quinlan, who works with the horse at the yard, came away from a recent workout at The Curragh in good spirits. O'Brien has even floated the idea of the French Derby as a possible target, which is not something you say lightly.

What makes Constitution River genuinely compelling is the combination of raw talent and room to grow. It was winning while still being green, still learning. Lordan has said plainly that the horse will stay — meaning it will get better as races get longer — and he mentioned the possibility of stepping up to a mile and a quarter. O'Brien's yard has sent out 144 winners already this season, so there is no shortage of horses to choose from. Constitution River is clearly one they have circled.