Bolshoi Ballet ‘Very Sore’ Following Cazoo Derby

Coolmore partners' Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who sustained a cut to his hind leg in the G1 Cazoo Derby before finishing seventh, is reported to be 'very sore', but that the injury will not take significant time to heal. The dual Group 3 winner was favoured at Epsom on Saturday.

“He was very sore this morning,” said trainer Aidan O'Brien. “We played back the videos of the race. At the top of the hill he had it, so he obviously got it in the first 150 yards. Usually with a horse if that happens late in a race it doesn't affect them much because their blood is up, but this happened very early so it suggests it was a good reason for a disappointing run. It was just off the tendon at the back. The lads thought seven to 10 days is when we should be able to do something again with him.”

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Dozen Set For Derby, Ballet Drawn Nine

A dozen colts colts will race in Saturday's G1 Cazoo Derby at Epsom, with Thursday morning's declaration seeing the expected five Ballydoyle withdrawals along with the removal of Aquis Farm and Ballylinch Stud's May 21 Listed Cocked Hat S. winner Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Alone in representing Aidan O'Brien is the G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial S. winner Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who will break from the nine stall which housed High Chaparral (Ire) in 2002. Godolphin's May 13 G2 Dante S. winner Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was drawn five, with his trainer Charlie Appleby also providing a late twist to the Derby drama by jocking off Oisin Murphy on the outsider Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Adam Kirby, who was usurped by Frankie Dettori on Anamoine Limited's May 15 Listed Fairway S. winner John Leeper (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), will now partner the Apr. 23 G3 Sandown Classic Trial and May 8 Listed Lingfield Derby Trial runner-up Adayar who received the hoodoo draw in one. Jim Bolger's G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) is in eight alongside Bolshoi Ballet, while John Leeper is in 12 which served as the stall for Australia (GB) and Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in recent times. Shadwell's impressive Listed Newmarket S. winner Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) is in four, while Roger Varian and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Lingfield Derby Trial winner Third Realm (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) will have to overcome the two draw which incredibly has never produced a Derby winner since stalls were introduced.

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High Definition To Wait For The Irish Derby

Aidan O'Brien has announced that last year's G2 Beresford S. winner High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will miss Saturday's G1 Cazoo Derby at Epsom for which he was the winter ante-post favourite and wait for the G1 Irish Derby at The Curragh June 26. Confirming that TDN Rising Star Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will be the stable's sole representative in the blue riband, the Ballydoyle handler said during racing at The Curragh, “Nothing is written in stone until ten o'clock in the morning, but it looks like the two horses are going to be split. It looks like Bolshoi Ballet is going to Epsom and it looks like High Definition is coming straight here. Bolshoi would be our only runner at Epsom–that's what the lads are thinking to give the two of them a chance at a Derby. St Mark's Basilica and Van Gogh are going to France. Kyprios is going to Ascot for the Queen's Vase and Sir Lamorak might go for the King Edward. We were lucky to get the run into High Definition at York and we think he's a very good horse. A little more time won't do him any harm. It was just to give the two of them a chance until they have to meet. The Curragh Derby is a very important race, as the Epsom Derby is also. I'm very happy with both horses. If we didn't get the run into High Definition then there was no decision to make, as if he didn't run in York then he definitely wouldn't go to Epsom.”

With Frankie Dettori no longer required by Ballydoyle, the 50-year-old who was widely expected to be on High Definition instead gets the call-up for TDN Rising Star John Leeper (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Cristina Patino's May 15 Listed Fairway S. winner was due to be ridden by Adam Kirby, but the owner-breeder was intent on snaring the jockey who steered Snow Fairy (Ire) (Intikhab) to glory in the 2012 G1 Irish Champion S. “Frankie was the first choice and was approached quite a while ago, but he has been riding a lot for Aidan in England and that was going to happen until the bolt out of the blue from Ballydoyle this afternoon,” trainer Ed Dunlop explained to the Racing Post. “There are no negatives with Frankie riding in the Derby and the horse's work is all done now. He's done everything we've wanted him to do so far and, touch wood, everything is going well going into the race. The news today came a bit out of the blue, but once Mrs Patino heard she was very keen and instructed us to see if Frankie was available.”

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O’Brien’s Cazoo Derby Team Being Finalised

The G1 Cazoo Derby field is currently at 19, with as many as six Aidan O'Brien colts set to compete, including the ante-post favourite dual Group 3 winner Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G2 Beresford S. hero and G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. third High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was the Derby favourite over the winter. French Group 1 winner Van Gogh (American Pharoah), third in the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas is possible, although he is also one of 20 left in the G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club. O'Brien also has two-time winners Sir Lamorak (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the Leopardstown winner The Mediterranean (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). However, a final call on which Ballydoyle horses will step forward in the Blue Riband will be made on Wednesday.

“It's not definite yet what we're sending,” said the master of Ballydoyle. “They've all done their last piece of work this morning and that is being analysed at the moment.

“When the figures come back from all those works, they'll be sent to the lads [owners] this evening. They'll be blooded and scoped in the morning and we'll have the results of that at lunchtime tomorrow or a little bit later. After that we'll see what the lads want to do.

“Obviously with Bolshoi Ballet, this has been his target all the way. High Definition the same, but he didn't have a clear passage obviously to York. Kyprios and Sir Lamorak both have other options, The Mediterranean is in at Leopardstown on Thursday and Van Gogh has an option of going to France [for the French Derby on Sunday]. Everything went well this morning and it's so far so good with them.”

“I think it's very competitive.,” O'Brien said of this year's Derby entries. “There's horses that have come from different trials over different trips and I think they all have to be respected.

“For me, there is no doubt the Derby is the most important race of all. The whole thoroughbred breed is measured by the Derby–because it's the most gruelling race and tough on horses.”

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