European Road to the Kentucky Derby Wraps Thursday

Triple Crown-nominated U S S Michigan is among the top contenders in the Woodford Reserve Cardinal Conditions Stakes April 11 at Chelmsford City, the final race in the European Road to the Kentucky Derby.

The series of races awards Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) qualifying points to nominated runners. Thursday's race is the final and most lucrative points race in the European series, awarding 30-12-6-3 to the top four finishers.

Thursday's race for 3-year-olds features two Triple Crown-nominated runners in U S S Michigan and Shir Khan. Campaigned by Coolmore-affiliated owners Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, U S S Michigan enters Thursday's one-mile test on the synthetic track off a clear victory in a March 1 maiden race at six furlongs on the synthetic surface at Dundalk.

Bred in Kentucky by Joseph Allen, U S S Michigan is a son of War Front  out of Unbridled's Song mare Photograph. U S S Michigan is a full brother to group 3 winner War Dispatch.

U S S Michigan is trained by Aidan O'Brien, who also sends out Antilles, also a son of War Front, who will make his seasonal debut after a win in four juvenile starts.

Shir Khan, a son of Leroidesanimauxtrained by Paul Cole, will make his first start since a five-length romp in an about 1 3/16-mile maiden race Nov. 17 on the synthetic track at Wolverhampton.

The expected field of nine also includes group 2 winner Dark Vision, who will make his seasonal debut for Godolphin and trainer Mark Johnston.

"It is going to take a fair horse to win on Thursday as it looks a hot race," said Oliver Cole, assistant to his father, Paul. "Shir Khan has been working well. We have not done any testing work, but what we have seen, we have been pleased with.

"We don't quite know how good he is and whether he is in the deep end or not, we don't know. I expect we will find out on Thursday. He took a long time to come to hand physically last year, but we have always liked the horse."