Of the 72, 23 are trained in Ireland, including the outstanding juvenile of 2023, City Of Troy (Justify), last seen winning the G1 Dewhurst S. at Newmarket by three and a half lengths in impressive fashion. He is one of 17 entries for Aidan O'Brien, the most successful trainer in the history of the Classic having saddled nine winners since the turn of the century. O'Brien's other notable entries include G1 National S. winner Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who emulated City Of Troy by winning each of his three starts as a two-year-old, plus G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud hero Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and G2 Champions Juvenile S. winner Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), both of whom should be well suited by stepping up to a mile and a half on pedigree.

The Paddy Twomey-trained Deepone (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), who finished fourth behind Diego Velazquez at Leopardstown before winning the G2 Beresford S. at the Curragh, is another standout name among the Irish contingent, while Saint-Cloud maiden winner Roadshow (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is the sole entry from France. Trained by Andre Fabre, Roadshow is another potential runner for the various Coolmore partnerships, sporting the familiar purple and white silks of Derek Smith which have already been carried to success in the Derby on three occasions.

US-trained runners at Epsom are much less common, but there could be one in the 2024 renewal, namely Common Defense (Karakontie {Jpn}), last seen filling the runner-up spot in the GII Rebel S. at Oaklawn Park for Kenny McPeek. Further international interest could be provided by Justin Milano (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), potentially a first ever runner from Japan in the Derby. Trained by Yasuo Tomomichi–a three-time winner of the Japanese equivalent, the Tokyo Yushun–Justin Milano was successful in the G3 Kyodo News Hai at Tokyo on his most recent start.

The home team is headed by the Charlie Appleby-trained pair of Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi) and Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi), both of whom achieved a high level of form at two. Ancient Wisdom proved himself one of the best of his generation when landing the G1 Futurity Trophy S. at Doncaster, while Arabian Crown impressed when running out an emphatic winner of the G3 Zetland S. at Newmarket. Incidentally, Appleby is also responsible for 'TDN Rising Star' Endless Victory (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), a full-brother to the G1 Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter (GB) who won by a wide margin on his debut at Wolverhampton earlier this month.

Clive Cox's Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is another to note having won each of his three starts as a juvenile, notably coming out on top in what looked a deep renewal of the G2 Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket, beating Al Musmak (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Capulet (Justify) and Macduff (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). The first four have all been given Derby entries, along with John and Thady Gosden's Futurity Trophy third God's Window (GB) (Dubawi).

The second entry stage is set for Wednesday, April 24.

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A Coolmore homebred out of the G1 Fillies' Mile winner Together Forever (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), City Of Troy went unbeaten in three starts as a two-year-old, culminating with a dominant display when winning the G1 Dewhurst S. at Newmarket by three and a half lengths. It was that effort which earned him his rating of 125, five pounds clear of the next best juvenile, G1 Phoenix S. winner Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).

“We've probably never had a horse as exciting as City Of Troy as a two-year-old,” said O'Brien. “I suppose from the first time he ran he looked like he was something different. What makes him different is the tempo he's able to go in a race and then he just kicks into another gear at halfway.”

Noting the differences between City Of Troy and Johannesburg, O'Brien added, “Johannesburg was more of a two-year-old. He was a small horse, but City Of Troy is a bigger horse with a massive, long stride. He looks like he'll have no problem going up in distance and he's a horse who should go forward from two to three.”

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) handicapper Mark Bird said of the champion juvenile, “City Of Troy proved himself the cream of the two-year-old crop in Europe with three impressive performances between July and October. His rating of 125 places him alongside high-class horses such as Zafonic and Fasliyev at the same stage of their careers and behind only four-time Group 1-winning juvenile Johannesburg (126) among his own stable's illustrious roll call of European champion two-year-olds.”

Two of the top four colts were trained at Ballydoyle by O'Brien. Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was just behind Adrian Murray's Bucanero Fuerte with a rating of 119 having emulated City Of Troy by winning each of his three starts as a two-year-old, including an impressive five-length victory in the G1 National S. at the Curragh. He looks another leading Classic contender for his stable as a three-year-old, with a trip to France reportedly first on the agenda.

O'Brien said, “Obviously it can all change, but we're thinking of starting City Of Troy at Newmarket [in the G1 2000 Guineas] and we're thinking of maybe starting Henry Longfellow in France [in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains].”

G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. winner Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) was ranked joint-third with Henry Longfellow. He also emerged as the best of the British-based two-year-olds ahead of three other top-level winners, namely Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), who earned a rating of 117 for his victory in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp; Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), rated 116 after her win in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. at the Curragh; and Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was awarded a rating of 115 after his wins in the G3 Autumn S. at Newmarket and G1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster.

Fallen Angel was rated highest of all juvenile fillies trained in Britain, but she had to settle for the runner-up spot in Europe behind the 118-rated Opera Singer (Justify), the emphatic winner of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac on whom O'Brien also issued a positive bulletin ahead of her three-year-old campaign.

“Opera Singer was a filly who improved with every run as the year went on and she got better as she went up in trip,” said O'Brien. “We were very happy with her last two runs and we haven't seen the best of her at all. She's done well physically and we're thinking she'll probably start in the G1 1000 Guineas.”

The 114-rated Ramatuelle, another daughter of Justify, was the standout two-year-old of either sex in France having won three of her first four starts for Christopher Head, including the G2 Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly by four lengths, before being narrowly beaten by Vandeek when stepping up to the top level in the Prix Morny at Deauville. The 113-rated Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), runner-up to Fallen Angel in the Moyglare, and G1 Fillies' Mile winner Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}), rated 112, were the pick of the other juvenile fillies in Europe.

The Breeders' Cup was a happy hunting ground for the European raiders, with Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett) and Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point) both achieving notable ratings in winning the G1 Juvenile Turf and G1 Juvenile Turf Sprint respectively. With a rating of 114, Unquestionable shares joint-ninth with Dewhurst runner-up Alyanaabi (Ire) (Too Darn Hot) and Ramatuelle, while Big Evs sits just outside the top ten on 113, together with G2 Champagne S. winner Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), G1 Criterium International hero Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) and Vespertilio.

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It's Ancient Wisdom who powers to victory in the Group 1 Kameko Futurity at @DoncasterRaces for William Buick and Charlie Appleby! pic.twitter.com/WFkqOOJBrx

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 28, 2023

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“We have been very pleased with how Ancient Wisdom came out of the Autumn Stakes,” he said. “It wasn't an immediate decision afterwards to come here, but we thought that we would keep an eye on his wellbeing with a view to potentially heading to Doncaster. We are happy with him going into this and he showed at Newmarket that a mile on testing conditions suited him, so he ticks a few boxes in a race where stamina is going to play a part. It's a competitive field and we are looking forward to seeing how he gets on.”

Aidan O'Brien has won this 11 times and four times since 2017 with some of his biggest names and relies on the unbeaten Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who like last year's hero Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) comes here on the back of a win in Leopardstown's G2 Champions Juvenile S. Only raced on good ground so far, he is ridden by James Doyle due to the suspension of Ryan Moore and he said, “We haven't seen much of him, but the two starts we have done he looks very progressive and warms to the task. I don't think he's encountered ground like we'll have for this, so we'll just have to see.”

Fishdance Limited's impressive Listed Flying Scotsman S. winner Dancing Gemini (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is up there with the two big guns on that course form and trainer Roger Teal is understandably confident. “He beat what was in front of him that day and he beat them in style, it was faster than the group two the next day. It was a good performance, he did it very convincingly,” he said. “It was pretty soft the day he won at Doncaster. It is not ideal for any horse, I don't think any trainer would choose the conditions if they could. The way he travels, he is quite light on his feet so hopefully he doesn't get bogged down too much.”

Of the unexposed members of the cast, Cayton Park Stud's homebred God's Window (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is of obvious intrigue having won his maiden over course and distance at the St Leger meeting, but few lightly-raced types get involved in this race in recent years. Jockey Kieran Shoemark said, “He won his maiden nicely there on pretty soft ground on Leger day, so the ground is not a concern. He definitely appreciates a cut in the ground, but heavy ground is different altogether. He gave me a good feel on his debut, I felt when I crossed the line he was only just getting going and he ran all the way to the bottom of the hill.”

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A winner of the G3 Autumn S. last out, the colt is reportedly doing well. His record stands at three wins from four starts for trainer Charlie Appleby, and he pleased connections in a Saturday morning workout.

“Ancient Wisdom, brilliant winner of the G3 Autumn S. on Future Champions Day at Newmarket, worked well this morning and the intention is to supplement him for next weekend's Group 1 Futurity S. at Doncaster,” Godolphin tweeted on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday.

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Positioned off the clear leader in third until taking closer order once past halfway, the 2-1 joint-favourite seized control approaching the final furlong and powered clear of toiling rivals up the hill to easily outpoint Chief Little Rock (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by an impressive 3 3/4 lengths. Ancient Wisdom had previously followed up a taking debut performance at Haydock in June with a second triumph, under a six-pound penalty, at Newmarket's July track.

“We were disappointed that we were beat at Ascot, but that race worked out so well you couldn't really be disappointed in it,” commented Charlie Appleby. “I've probably mismanaged him running him back at Newmarket. He broke his maiden at Haydock Park and I went to Newmarket thinking I could try and get a bit more experience. He is a Dubawi and I was probably forcing him a bit too much so, after Ascot, we said collectively we will give him a break and we toyed with this and the Zetland. I told William [Buick] he is a horse that will travel for fun stepping up a furlong and also the conditions out there were going to suit him. I said to ride him with mega confidence, to sit up there and travel in the van as he will pick up for you, and he has duly obliged. He is a horse next year that will be a middle-distance type. He is a horse that I do feel a mile-and-a-quarter will be well within his compass and I personally think he will appreciate going a mile-and-a-half. He is a Dubawi and, as we know with those middle-distance Dubawis, you can't force them too much in the spring of their 3-year-old career, so therefore something like the [G2] Dante might be a target for him. We will see where we are in the spring, but we have a long winter ahead of us now. It is nice to be able to put these horses to bed on the back of an impressive victory.”

Pedigree Notes

Ancient Wisdom, full to a weanling colt and half to a yearling colt by Lope De Vega (Ire), is the third of five foals and one of two scorers produced by G3 Prix Minerve winner Golden Valentine (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}), herself one of seven stakes performers out of G3 Prix Cleopatre victrix Gold Round (Ire) (Caerleon). Golden Valentine's siblings include her G3 Prix du Lys-winning full-brother Goldwaki (Ger), GIII Robert J Frankel S. victrix and GI Rodeo Drive S. runner-up Luck (Kitten's Joy) and the dam of G3 Prix Vanteaux winner and GI E P Taylor S. third Platane (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}). Gold Round, in turn, is a half-sister to storied multiple champion and three-time GI Breeders' Cup Mile heroine Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa), G1 Prix Vermeille victrix Galikova (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}) and multiple Group 1-placed sire Anodin (Ire) (Anabaa). Golden Valentine was a €520,000 purchase at Arqana's 2012 December Broodmare sale.

Third to subsequent G1 scorer Rosallion last time out, the exciting Ancient Wisdom (Dubawi) is all class for team @godolphin in the G3 @emirates Autumn Stakes pic.twitter.com/N169vzyfmd

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 14, 2023

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
EMIRATES AUTUMN S.-G3, £60,000, Newmarket, 10-14, 2yo, 8fT, 1:37.92, sf.
1–ANCIENT WISDOM (FR), 129, c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Golden Valentine (Fr) (GSW-Fr, $125,200), by Dalakhani (Ire)
2nd Dam: Gold Round (Ire), by Caerleon
3rd Dam: Born Gold, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. TDN Rising Star. (€2,000,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Godolphin; B-Ecurie des Monceaux & LNJ Foxwoods (FR); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-1, $60,512. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Chief Little Rock (Ire), 129, c, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Amicus (Aus), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). O-Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £12,900.
3–Ambiente Friendly (Ire), 129, c, 2, Gleneagles (Ire)–Roxity (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (25,000gns RNA Ylg '22 TATOCT; 80,000gns 2yo '23 TATBRE). O-The Gredley Family; B-Al Shira'aa Farms SARL (IRE); T-James Fanshawe. £6,456.
Margins: 3 3/4, 1 3/4, 5. Odds: 2.00, 3.50, 16.00.
Also Ran: Orne (Ire), Per Contra (Ire), Arabic Legend (Ire), Starliner (Ire).

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