O'Brien Pair Among Racing Post Trophy Favorites

Irish trainer Adian O'Brien has two of the favorites for the final group 1 race of the English flat season, the Oct. 28 Racing Post Trophy for 2-year-olds at Doncaster—a key early steppingstone to the Investec Derby (G1) at Epsom.

O'Brien, who enters the weekend seeking his 26th group 1 win of the season, saddles Saxon Warrior and The Pentagon among the best-backed in antepost wagering for the one-mile event, which also is a European Road to the Kentucky Derby points race. His backup team in the field of 12 includes Seahenge and Coat of Arms.

Saxon Warrior, by Deep Impact (JPN) out of the Galileo (IRE) mare Maybe, and The Pentagon, by Galileo from the Unfuwain mare Vadawina, both boast two-race winning streaks. Saxon Warrior is undefeated with a win last time out in the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes (G2) at Naas. The Pentagon is two for three after a last-race victory in the JRA Tyros Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown.

Ryan Moore rode both Saxon Warrior and The Pentagon in their previous races and opts for Saxon Warrior in the Racing Post Trophy.

More generous odds are available on Seahenge, by Scat Daddy, and Coat of Arms, a Galileo colt still winless after six starts.

Also drawing attention is Verbal Dexterity, an Irish-bred colt by Vocalized, out of the Holy Roman Emperor mare Lonrach. The Jim Bolger trainee is two for three and won the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National at The Curragh Sept. 10 in his most recent start.

Roaring Lion, a Kentucky-bred colt by Kitten's Joy  from the Street Sense mare Vionnet, is three for three with a win in the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (G2) at Newmarket the most recent entry on his resume. John Gosden trains Roaring Lion for Qatar Racing.

Chilean, an Iffraaj colt, is a relative outsider but picks up Andrea Atzeni, who has won the past four runnings of the Racing Post Trophy.

"Aidan O'Brien has two of the favorites for the Derby and Jim Bolger's horse deserves the utmost respect as a group 1 winner," noted Chilean's trainer, Martyn Meade. "But we can't be frightened off."

O'Brien's mark of 25 top-level wins equals the standard set in 2003 by the late Bobby Frankel. 

Since its inauguration in 1961, five winners of the Racing Post Trophy have gone on to win the Epsom Derby the following year, most recently 2012 Derby winner Camelot. The Pentagon is the early favorite with most English bookmakers for the 2018 Derby, at odds as low as 9-1.

Churchill Downs is offering a European path to the Kentucky Derby (G1) for the first time. The Racing Post Trophy will be this year's final race in the series, which finishes up with three races on all-weather tracks in March.