Newly elected Phumelela Chairman Bernard Kantor has one of the 338 yearling entries for the 240th running of the Investec Derby at Epsom Downs on 1 June 2019.
Bernard Kantor with Cape racecaller Rouvaun Smit (photo: supplied)
The co-fouunder of Investec Bank and a prominent owner and breeder in South Africa, Kantor has entered a Camelot colt which cost 62,000 guineas at Tattersalls.
Britain’s premier Classic and richest race, run over 2400m for three-year-old colts and fillies, carries a stake of at least £1.5-million.
The Coolmore partners of Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith have dominated the Classic in recent times, with seven winners in various combinations of ownership – 2001 Galileo; 2002 High Chaparral; 2011 Pour Moi; 2012 Camelot; 2013 Ruler Of The World; 2014 Australia & 2017 Wings Of Eagles.
They have 45 entries between them, headed by no less than 30 sons of eight-time champion sire Galileo, including full-brothers to Highland Reel, Churchill and Sir Isaac Newton, as well as a Frankel colt out of Belesta – the €1.6m sale topper at Goffs Orby – and an Australia colt out of four-time G1 scorer Peeping Fawn.
Ruler Of The World seen winning the Investec Derby in 2013
Investec Derby-winning owner the Aga Khan took the spoils for the fifth time in 2016 with Harzand. His 22 entries are headed by an Invincible Spirit colt out of unbeaten superstar Zarkava.
Faylaq, a 1.5-million guineas Dubawi colt in training with William Haggas, and Maydanny, a 1.35-million guineas purchase by the same sire with Mark Johnston, headline 21 entries for owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, successful with Nashwan (1989) and Erhaab (1994).
Khalid Abdullah has 18 entries as he chases a fourth Investec Derby victory, while Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation has 11 entries.
HRH Queen Elizabeth
Her Majesty The Queen, a great supporter of Epsom Downs, is yet to win the Investec Derby, although she came close with 1953 runner-up Aureole and Carlton House, who was third in 2011. Her Majesty’s five entries include the first progeny of 2013 Gold Cup heroine Estimate, sired by Dubawi.
Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, successful with High-Rise in 1998, has 10 entries including a Dubawi colt out of three-time G1 scorer Finsceal Beo.
Australia wins the 2014 Investec Derby
The Niarchos Family and its offshoot Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd have 13 entries in total, topped by sons of high-class racemares Six Pefections, Fiesolana and Duntle, all by Galileo.
There are two further opportunities for horses to be entered in the 2019 Investec Derby – at the second entry stage in April, 2019 and at the supplementary entry stage on Monday, May 27, 2019.
Horses who are not entered can also gain a Wild Card entry into the Investec Derby by winning one of the two races at Epsom Downs – a conditions race over an extended mile in September, 2018, and the 10-furlong Investec Derby Trial in April, 2019.
