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The Jockey Club, Ascot Partner with Churchill Downs for Trans-Atlantic Initiative

A pair of runners competing during Kentucky Derby week at Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby, will be offered wild card entries for Epsom's 3-year-old Classics contested four weeks later.

The winner of Churchill's $500,000 GII Edgewood S., contested on the Kentucky Oaks undercard May 3, will receive an entry and travel incentive to run in the G1 Betfred Oaks at Epsom May 31.

In the colt's division, a runner from the $500,000 GII American Turf S., scheduled for Kentucky Derby Day May 4, will receive an entry and travel incentive to the June 1 Betfred Derby.

The Jockey Club and Ascot Racecourse have also coordinated with Churchill to offer wild card entries to a pair of Royal Ascot fixtures. A runner from the $500,000 GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint S., also run on Kentucky Derby Day, will receive an entry and a travel incentive to run in the G1 King Charles III S. (formerly the King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot June 18. Additionally, a runner from the $1-million GI Old Forester Turf Classic S., contested on Kentucky Derby Day, will receive an entry and a travel incentive to run in either the G1 Queen Anne S. June 18 or the G1 Prince of Wales's S., held June 19, both staged during the Royal meeting.

In return for the above incentives for U.S.-based runners, a runner from both the Queen Anne and the Prince of Wales's will receive an entry and a travel incentive to run in Colonial Downs' $1-million GI Arlington Million S. over 10 furlongs in mid-August.

Also, a runner from the G1 Tattersalls Falmouth S. at Newmarket's July Festival July 12 will also receive an entry and travel incentive to run in the $500,000 GI Beverly D S. on the same day as the Colonial Downs Arlington Million.

Winners of the aforementioned races will receive the invite to run in the corresponding races across the Atlantic. However, in the event that the winners aren't able to accept, racecourses may then also invite placed horses. The elimination procedures in these races will remain as they are now.

“A trip to Churchill Downs is one that should be on the bucket list for every racing fan, the world over,” said Matt Woolston, Assistant Racing and International Racing Director at The Jockey Club. “The Kentucky Derby itself can trace its origin back to Epsom Downs in 1780 when Diomed won the very first Derby and we are proud to reinforce this historic link.

“These historic races already have an international reputation and we want to welcome more and more international runners in the years to come.”

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Dubai Mile Likely for Grand Prix de Paris

Ahmad Al Shaih's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Dubai Mile (Ire) (Roaring Lion) will be pointed to the G1 Grand Prix de Paris with the possibility of a run at Royal Ascot in between, trainer Charlie Johnson said. The colt finished ninth in the G1 Betfred Derby on Saturday and was fifth in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in his three-year-old debut last month.

Dubai Mile holds engagements in the G2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot on Jun 23 and also the G1 Irish Derby at The Curragh on July 2. However, Johnston is keen to head to ParisLongchamp for the Grand Prix de Paris, over the same 1 1/2-mile trip on July 14.

“We will see about Ascot and I've always thought the Grand Prix de Paris was a race that would really suit him,” Johnston said. “I'd like to have that as part of his plans. Whether or not he goes to Ascot in between, we'll see.

“If he did everything, it would be three weeks and three weeks–it is six weeks until Paris.”

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“It’s All To Play For” – Murphy Team Place Faith In Derby Hope White Birch

John Murphy has described himself as very lucky to have come across Betfred Derby contender White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) and says that his 14-1 chance for Epsom glory is more than worthy of his shot in the line-up for the eagerly-awaited Classic.

White Birch identified himself as a bona fide Derby prospect when streaking to G3 Ballysax S. glory at Leopardstown earlier in the season. From there, he went on to overcome a tardy start to finish an excellent second behind The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in the G2 Dante S. at York, enhancing his Derby credentials in the process.

Murphy, who turned 62 last week, said, “It's hugely exciting. It gives you a pep in the step and we're really looking forward to it.”

Murphy is best known for sending out Newmill (Ire) (Norwich {GB}) to win the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2006. That was the Upton-based trainer's first ever top-level triumph and he followed it up with another when Newmill went on to win at the Punchestown Festival later that spring.

A lot of water has passed under the bridge since the days of Newmill, with Murphy almost entirely concentrating on the Flat now, the fruits of which will be in full bloom on Saturday.

“We're just very lucky,” he added. “We're very thankful to everyone who has made it possible, especially all of our staff, who have done a great job with White Birch.”

However, it's not entirely true to say that White Birch will be Murphy's first Derby runner. The man who describes himself as a producing trainer, a nod to the fact he gets as much of a kick out of selling horses as he does winning with them, pinhooked Papal Bull (GB) many moons ago.

Papal Bull went on to finish a luckless 10th in the Derby for Sir Michael Stoute the same year Newmill won the Champion Chase and is just another horse that Murphy enhanced the value of, having bought him as a foal for just 20,000gns and selling him on to Demi O'Byrne as a yearling for 100,000gns.

But it is Murphy's son George, along with the help of Tally-Ho Stud's Roger O'Callaghan, who deserve all the credit for finding White Birch. O'Callaghan highly recommended the grey to the 29-year-old and a private deal was brokered.

Recalling the story, Murphy said, “It was George who saw White Birch first. The horse had been recommended by Roger O'Callaghan of Tally-Ho Stud and you have to listen when Roger speaks. When George went to see him, he loved him. He's a beautiful-looking horse. He had everything.”

There may have been a certain amount of luck in White Birch finding his way to the Murphys but even more when it came to hanging on to the horse. The phone calls were endless when White Birch won his maiden by over six lengths at Dundalk last November but it was long-standing owner Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez, who has had Big Time (Ire) (Kheleyf) and Charterhouse (GB) (Charming Thought {GB}) here and won the Oaks with the Aidan O'Brien-trained Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who came up trumps.

Murphy said, “He always did it easy and always had a lovely brain. He did it very well at Dundalk and there was a lot of interest in him after that.

“The owners [Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez] expressed an interest and we were delighted that they bought him and were kind enough to leave him in training with us. They are long-standing owners of ours and love their racing. They are here for a good one now anyway.”

A good one might be putting it mildly. White Birch is well found in the Derby market and, with Shane Foley committed to riding Jessica Harrington's Sprewell (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), Colin Keane has been booked to ride.

Murphy said, “We're delighted to have Colin on board. We have had a good relationship with Colin over the last number of years and White Birch definitely won't be lacking in the saddle anyway.”

And what would success mean to this father-and-son operation who have been without a flagship Group 1 horse for the best part of a decade?

“It's huge,” comes the response. “We might seem calm but, inside, a lot is going on. It's all to play for in the Derby. He probably has as much entitlement to go there as anything else in the race. Everything is good with the horse and we are happy.”

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