Saxon Warrior Seeks Redemption in Irish Derby

An impressive winner of the QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas at Newmarket, Saxon Warrior will be out to show that his disappointing effort in the Investec Derby (G1) was not a true reflection of his ability over 1 1/2 miles.

Saxon Warrior is one of four runners in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) at the Curragh for Aidan O'Brien, who is also represented by Delano Roosevelt, The Pentagon, and Rostropovich.

Victory for one of the Ballydoyle runners June 30 would give O'Brien a 40th Irish classic win and a 13th Irish Derby success, while a win for Saxon Warrior would hand Ryan Moore a first win in the race and complete a full book of British and Irish classic wins.

O'Brien said: "All has been good with Saxon Warrior since Epsom. Everyone here is very happy with him. He was that bit babyish and green for the track at Epsom and wasn't able to get his act together.

"We always thought he would get a mile and a half, and we're going to learn more about him here."

O'Brien added: "Rostropovich (second) and Delano Roosevelt (fifth) both ran well in the King Edward VII (Stakes, G2) at Ascot, while The Pentagon wasn't happy on the soft ground at Epsom—we think and hope  he has progressed and he will run a much better race this time."

Of O'Brien's 12 winners of the race, six of them, most recently Capri a year ago, had run unsuccessfully at Epsom before landing the Curragh prize.

Silvestre de Sousa has yet to win a classic, but that could all change when Dee Ex Bee attempts to go one place better than when a super second in the Investec Derby.

De Sousa, whose big-race triumphs include the Juddmonte International (G1), QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) and Dubai World Cup (G1), was aboard Dee Ex Bee at Epsom and is again in the saddle as the Mark Johnston-trained raider tackles the Irish Derby.

Frankie Dettori, who partners Knight To Behold, believes Dee Ex Bee should be favorite to win, but the Johnston camp is keeping all feet on the ground, mindful that odds-on favorite Saxon Warrior is one of four Ballydoyle runners.

Assistant trainer Charlie Johnston said: "The form is in the book from Epsom, where we beat Saxon Warrior fair and square.

"However, although I'm not saying there will be team tactics, it's a huge advantage for Saxon Warrior to have three stablemates in the race. They have the ability to control the race and make sure things play out in their favor.

"Having said that, our horse is very straightforward. We know he'll stay every inch of this trip and more. I assume the race will be a truly run test, but if it isn't, we'll be positive on our lad and play to his strengths, which is almost certainly his stamina."

Johnston added: "Come September, I'm sure the St. Leger will be our main focus, but if he wins the Irish Derby, then races like the (July 28) King George will come into the mix before then."

Dee Ex Bee, who runs in the colors of Sheikh Mohammed's son, Sheikh Hamdan, will be seeking to gain consolation for his yard, whose Elarqam was a well-beaten favorite in last month's Tattersalls Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1).

Since Sir Henry Cecil sent out Commander In Chief to win the Irish Derby 25 years ago, only two British visitors have captured Ireland's premier classic. 

Both those horses represented Godolphin. Based on recent form, Sheikh Mohammed's stable could again be the one to provide a rare British success.

Old Persian will be carrying the blue silks he sported to victory in last week's King Edward VII. They were also donned by big-race rider William Buick aboard the Charlie Appleby-trained Masar in the Investec Derby.

Only eight days separate the Royal Ascot and Curragh races, but with the €100,000 ($115,664) supplementary fee waived due to Old Persian's success in the King Edward VII, connections are taking the classic plunge and aiming to follow up Godolphin's 1994 triumph with Balanchine (who raced for Maktoum Al Maktoum) and 2015 champion Jack Hobbs.

Appleby said: "We fully respect Saxon Warrior and Dee Ex Bee, but we felt looking at the race as a whole that our horse would not be out of place in the field.

"He has a progressive profile, and the fact he won a 'Win and You're In' race at Ascot did prick our ears.

"It's a quick turnaround for this level, but he has ticked all the boxes in terms of showing he has recovered from last week, plus he is proven on fast ground and over a mile and a half. If he did win, it would bookend what has been an incredible month for us."

Joseph and Donnacha O'Brien take on their father Aidan's four-strong team with Latrobe, who carries the colors of Lloyd J. Williams, for whom the older O'Brien brother landed the Emirates Melbourne Cup with Rekindling.

A maiden winner over the course and trip on his most recent start, Latrobe had previously run second to Platinum Warrior, a rival again, in the Gallinule Stakes.

The colt's trainer, who twice won the race as a jockey on Camelot and Australia, said: "Latrobe is a horse we've always liked. He's in good shape, fresh and well, and the ground and the trip will be fine for him."

Donnacha has ridden two British classic winners this year but has yet to win an Irish classic.

Platinum Warrior was guaranteed a place in the lineup when he landed the group 3 Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes at the course in May. He will be a first Irish Derby ride for Shane Foley, who will be seeking a third Irish classic win.

The colt's trainer, Michael Halford, who will be bidding for a first classic win, said: "Platinum Warrior's preparation has gone well and he is a straightforward horse, so we've had no headaches on that front.

"His homework has been very good, and we were pleased with him on the Curragh last Tuesday morning, so we are looking forward to the race itself now. He seems to be a colt improving with racing."

Dermot Weld, who has sent out three Irish Derby winners, admitted he is "more hopeful than confident" about the prospects of the Calumet Farm-owned Bandua, who is two from two having achieved both his wins on testing ground at Cork.

He said: "Bandua has been so effective on a soft surface; whether he can adapt on a faster surface remains to be seen. The reason I am running him is he is working extremely well.

"He is American bred (The Factor —If Angels Sang, by Seattle Slew) so you would expect him to handle faster ground but he bends his knee and that is why he was so effective on soft ground."

Fozzy Stack, trainer of Carlo Biraghi, said: "He wasn't quite right after his run in a listed race at Leopardstown last time. He's in better form now and, hopefully, will run better—he will need to."