The Irish contingent make up nine of the nineteen six-day acceptors for the Gr1 Cazoo Derby at Epsom on Saturday.
Aidan O’Brien has six of these including the two Galileo colts dominating the market, Bolshoi Ballet and High Definition. The Ballydoyle maestro is bidding for an historic ninth English Derby victory, and the other stable possibilities include Kyprios, Sir Lamorak, The Mediterranean and Van Gogh.
Ballydoyle have yet to declare jockey bookings for their Cazoo festival runners, but Aidan O’Brien has hinted that Ryan Moore may find it hard to jump off the easy Gr3 Derrinstown Derby Trial winner Bolshoi Ballet. After winning the English 1000 Guineas on Mother Earth, expect Frankie Dettori to have a ride in both Classics for the stable.
The game winner of the Gr1 Irish 2000 Guineas, Mac Swiney goes for veteran trainer Jim Bolger. The Timeform rating of 122 that he achieved at the Curragh puts him towards the top of the ratings, only a pound behind ruling favourite Bolshoi Ballet. Rory Cleary retains the ride and is confident that the colt will see out the trip.
Southern Lights from the Joseph O’Brien stable and Seattle Sound from the Luke Comer yard complete the Irish challenge.
The English opposition includes a promising pair of Frankel colts. John Leeper for Ed Dunlop and the William Haggas trained Mohaafeth. John Leeper is bred in the purple as his dam Snow Fairy won the Oaks, and he is named after the trainer’s legendary father.
This lightly raced colt was very impressive when winning his last start at Newmarket, the listed Betway Fairway Stakes. The Shadwell owned Mohaafeth is unbeaten in three starts this season. He won the listed Betfair Newmarket Stakes over 2000m “in a canter” on good to firm ground.
Charlie Appleby, pictured above, has a trio of runners – including the unbeaten Gr2 Al Basti Equiworld Dante winner Hurricane Lane, the choice of Godolphin number one jock William Buick. The boys in blue are backed up with One Ruler (sixth in the English Guineas) with pilot James Doyle and reigning champ Oisin Murphy has taken the ride on Adayar.
Lingfield Trial winner and Rodger Varian trained Third Realm remains on course for the race, as does Chester Vase winner Youth Spirit for Andrew Balding and Tom Marquand.
The winner of the Goodwood Listed Cocked Hat Stakes, Lone Eagle for Martin Meade, Mark Johnston’s Gear Up and Mojo Star from the Richard Hannon yard complete the entries.
With the risk of showers diminishing later in the week, the clerk of the course Andrew Cooper has begun watering the Epsom track. The ground is predicted as good, good to firm in places. The official stated that the first mile of the race was firm and that this part of the course would be watered.
The Cazoo Oaks is run at Epsom on Friday and fifteen fillies have been declared. Aidan O’Brien is the sole Irish challenge with five entered. Once again, the stable field the top two in the betting with Santa Barbara and Snowfall. Santa Barbara has raced twice, an impressive maiden winner over a mile at the Curragh as a juvenile before starting favourite and finishing a close fourth behind stable companion Mother Earth in the Gr1 Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. Ballydoyle could also run Divinely, Willow and La Jaconde.
Aidan O’Brien – looking for another big weekend
Heading the home team, Rodger Varian has three potential entries. The trainer, whose previous best in the Cazoo Oaks was when Queen Daenerys finished fourth to Love last year was optimistic regarding his trio of acceptances.
He stated that he was delighted with how the Shadwell filly Zeyaadah ran on her comeback in the Cheshire Oaks and feels if she had got running earlier in the straight, she could have won. Teona is out to redeem herself after finishing third in a slowly run Musidora Stakes. The daughter of Sea the Stars will wear a hood, which she wears at home, in the Classic after running too free at York. The Newmarket trainer stated, “She’s trained very well since and she’s extremely talented.” The Carlburg trio is completed by the outsider Save A Forest.
Sir Michael Stoute, bidding for a third success in this race, is represented by the late Khalid Abdullah owned Noon Star, a daughter of Galileo. She ran second in her trial at York in the Gr3 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes behind Snowfall. The winner was given a great front running ride by Ryan Moore to win in easy fashion.
Saffron Beach who galloped at Epsom with race rider Adam Kirby aboard last week is from the Jane Chapple-Hyam yard and had a good prep with a fine second in the Gr1 Qipco 1000 Guineas last month at Newmarket on good to firm ground. Connections are confident she will see out the distance.
Mark Johnston sends out the listed Cheshire Oaks winner Dubai Fountain. This daughter of Teofilo was a comfortable winner on her seasonal return over 2300m, the first time she had been tried beyond a mile.
She has the highest official rating in the field.
