16 Remain Engaged for Epsom Derby

Following the May 22 deadline for scratches, at least 16 3-year-olds remain eligible for the Investec Epsom Derby (Eng-I), set for June 6. The classic is Britain's richest race, with a prize fund of at least £1.325 million.

 

Trained by John Gosden, Golden Horn is currently the 7-4 favorite with some bookmakers, but he is not currently entered in the Derby. He is expected to be added to the line-up at the £75,000 supplementary entry stage on June 1.

 

The son of Cape Cross, bred and race by Anthony Oppenheimer, won the Betfred Dante Stakes (Eng-II) May 14 at York on May 14 to stay unbeaten in three career starts. He defeated stablemate Jack Hobbs in the race, a colt who has since been bought into by Godolphin, and Andrew Balding trainee Elm Park, who both remain engaged in the Derby

 

The last three editions of the Derby have all fallen to horses owned by Coolmore partnerships and trained by Ireland's champion trainer Aidan O'Brien—Australia (2014), Ruler Of the World (2013), and Camelot (2012).

 

There are four horses going forward from Ballydoyle this year—QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) winner Gleneagles, who is a hot favorite for Saturday's Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) , impressive Chester Vase (Eng-III) winner Hans Holbein, and Giovanni Canaletto, who is set to make his seasonal return in the Gallinule Stakes (Ire-III) Sunday at the Curragh, and listed Lingfield Derby Trial winner Kilimanjaro.

 

There has also been some speculation that the O'Brien-trained filly Found may be supplemented for the Derby. A group I winner last season in the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp, the Galileo filly is a declared runner and the favorite in Sunday's Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-I). The last filly to run in the Epsom Derby was Cape Verdi (9th in 1998) with Nobiliary the latest to be placed when second to Grundy in 1975. 

 

Six fillies have won the Investec Derby, although the latest was 99 years ago when Fifinella landed a wartime substitute Derby at Newmarket.

 

Further Irish interest could also come from Zawraq (Dermot Weld), successful on his two starts, including the listed Irish Two Thousand Guineas Trial at Leopardstown April 12.

 

Pour Moi, also owned by a Coolmore partnership, was the latest French-trained winner of the Derby in 2011 and Gallic interest this year could come from Epicuris (Criquette Head-Maarek), successful in last year's Criterium de Saint-Cloud (Fr-I), while Rogue Runner (Andreas Wohler) may attempt to become the first German-trained winner of the English classic.

 

Also remaining eligible are Storm the Stars (William Haggas), Godophin's Best of Times (Saeed bin Suroor), and Great Glen (Ralph Beckett), the respective winner, runner-up, and fourth-place finisher in the listed Cocked Hat Stakes May 22 at Goodwood. Storm the Stars, a Kentucky-bred son of Sea The Stars owned by Sheikh Juma Bin Dalmook Al Maktoum, made all the running under Pat Cosgrove to win the 1 3/8-mile race. His dam is a half sister to European Horse of the Year and Central Kentucky sire Giant's Causeway   and to the dam of Gleneagles. 

 

 

Prince Gagarin (Ed Dunlop), third in the listed Dee Stakes at Chester, has been bypassed racing at Goodwood Friday due to the going but is due to run instead at the Curragh on Sunday in the Gallinule Stakes.

 

Other horses going forward for Derby glory are Moheet (Richard Hannon), a staying-on eighth in the Two Thousand Guineas, Rocky Rider (Andrew Balding), and Carbon Dating (Pat Shanahan).

 

The five-day confirmation stage along with the £75,000 supplementary entry stage is scheduled for June 1.