Los Angeles won the Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown, putting himself in the Derby picture.
After going undefeated at two and winning a maiden in Tipperary, the Camelot colt finished the season at the highest level by winning the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud in October.
He made a comeback as one of the two horses trained by Aidan O'Brien in the Leopardstown Group Three. Declan McDonogh rode stablemate Euphoric, the early favourite under Wayne Lordan.
The three-year-old started the race in the middle of the pack but began to pick up speed as the race approached the midway point. Two furlongs from home, he pushed for the lead.
From there, he overtook Euphoric on the inside rail and managed to hold off Dermot Weld's Taraj to win by a length and reduce his Derby odds with Coral from 20-1 to 10-1.
Aidan O’Brien’s stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “It was great to get him out. Obviously he won his maiden first time in Tipperary and then stepped up quickly enough to the race in France. Both his runs last year were on an easier surface, so it’s great to get him out here. He’s carrying a bit more condition and the run is going to bring him on a ton. When he steps up again to a mile and a half he’ll improve and he’s right now bang in the Derby picture. He’s very exciting. The second horse ran a cracker as well and once he goes up in trip again he’ll improve a lot. The second horse is a very solid horse.”
Of the winner, Armstrong added: “He only had the two runs under his belt at two, which came in quite quick succession. I’d say he’s still quite raw and he’ll come on mentally and physically. He’s one to look forward to for the Derby. He’s got the pedigree. He’s by Camelot, where he gets the stamina. He’s a big horse but he’s a beautiful mover and he’s got the right mind. You could see him walking around the paddock beforehand, absolutely chilled and he has the same attitude at home. Camelot obviously went around there (Epsom) no problem and this horse has a lot of his good sire traits. He can travel away and the big improvement will be when he goes up to a mile and a half.”