Royal Patronage, Luxembourg Win European KY Derby Preps

The European Road to the Kentucky Derby got off to a double-barreled start Sept. 25 with the first two legs of the series run just minutes apart on the turf in England and Ireland.

An exciting start it was, too, with Royal Patronage  finding another gear in the final furlong of the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (G2) at Newmarket to catch the favorite and apparent sure winner, Coroebus , in the shadow of the wire and Luxembourg , a dominating, last-to-first victor in the Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford Stakes (G2) at the Curragh.

Each winner accumulated 10 points toward a guaranteed slot in the 148th Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) May 7, 2022, at Churchill Downs. They are more likely, however, to be headed for next year's QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1) at Newmarket or the Cazoo Derby (G1) at Epsom Downs.

With a furlong to run in the one-mile Royal Lodge, the win looked firmly in the grasp of Godolphin's homebred colt Coroebus. But Royal Patronage had that one well in his sights, gobbled up ground along the rail, and was up just in time to post the mild upset victory by a neck under Jason Hart.

Frankie Dettori got long shot Unconquerable  along for third as Royal Patronage ran his winning streak to three for trainer Mark Johnston. The Wootton Bassett  colt, out of the Dalakhani  mare Shaloushka , was bred by Emma Capon Bloodstock in France and races for Highclere Thoroughbred Racing.

Coroebus seemed such a certain winner, Johnston said per Racing Post, "I had put my binoculars down at one point when the other horse was clear. But when he hit the rising ground, (Royal Patronage) found another gear."

Royal Patronage also scored a berth in the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) at Del Mar, as the Royal Lodge is part of the international Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

At the Curragh, Luxembourg and jockey Seamie Heffernan got going from the rear of the five-horse field in the final furlong of the Beresford and quickly put matters to rest. Circling rivals, the Camelot  colt was a comfortable 4 3/4 lengths in front of his closest competitor at the finish while never asked for his best effort.

The win was his second from as many starts for trainer Aidan O'Brien and a partnership including the Coolmore "lads." Bred by B.V. Sangster in Ireland, the colt is out of the Danehill Dancer  mare Attire .

The series continues on the grass in the Oct. 3 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) at ParisLongchamp in France and the Oct. 23 Vertem Futurity Trophy (G1) at Doncaster in England. Those turf races are more likely spots for youngsters with the following year's Guineas or the Epsom Derby Derby in their dreams than a potential trip to Louisville, Ky.

The Beresford was a springboard to Guineas and Epsom glory for Sea The Stars  in 2008-09. Benny the Dip got a double dip in the 1996 Royal Lodge and 1997 Derby. 

O'Brien won the Beresford for the 21st time. His previous winners include Japan , Saxon Warrior , and St Nicholas Abbey  and British bookmakers dropped the odds on Luxembourg's chances in the 2022 Epsom Derby as low as 10-1.

More likely targets for Kentucky Derby candidates are the three "Road" races on all-weather tracks in England and Ireland in March and April. The series has not produced a Kentucky Derby contender since its inauguration in 2018.

The European Road to the Kentucky Derby is separate from the main competition that includes U.S. races and the UAE Derby (G2) in Dubai. It is bookended by the four-race Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby that kicks off Nov. 27 at Tokyo Racecourse.