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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Pushed out by Richard Kingscote from there, the Clive Cox-trained 100,000gns Tatts December Foal purchase had 1 1/4 lengths to spare over the Listed Ascendant S. scorer Al Musmak (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) at the line, with half a length back to Capulet who looked every inch a Derby type as he rallied after being swamped entering the dip.

Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (G2)
1.610 m – 125.000 GBP
Newmarket

Ghostwriter (IRE)
(2C Invincible Spirit- Moorside , by Champs Elysees)
J : Richard Kingscote
T :Clive Cox
O :J. C. Smith
B : Norelands Bloodstock/Irish National Studpic.twitter.com/qT9B0ouGMx

— (@WorldRacing1) September 30, 2023

This is a “Win and You're In” to the $1 million GI Prevagen Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, but Cox was not committing in the immediate aftermath. “He has been improving with every run and that was a big step to take,” he said. “I couldn't be more pleased with the way he has carried it out and he looks full of promise going forward. The dam won over a mile and a half and I think he has a very good middle-distance plan to go forward with. He might get and a half, it is possible.”

“He was very much in his comfort zone and Richard was able to play him exactly as he felt and he quickened nicely when he met the rising ground there and I couldn't be more pleased,” he added. “He has always been a nice horse, but he has always been maturing and having a frame to fill while keeping his strength moving forwards. This cements what we thought so far and the dream is very much alive for next year. We are normally known for our sprinters, but it is such a joy to have a horse like this on our hands as it does set the pulse racing. I'd say the way he is physically developing all the time means I'd probably be thinking about next year.”

Pedigree Notes

Ghostwriter is the second foal out of the aforementioned Listed Cheshire Oaks runner-up Moorside, a granddaughter of Zaizafon (The Minstrel) who produced the brilliant Zafonic and his G3 Prix de Cabourg-winning full-brother and fellow sire Zamindar. This is also the family of the G1 Prix Jean Romanet heroine Announce (GB) (Selkirk), the triple group-winning Zarinsk (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) and the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches place-getters Irish Rookie (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) and Mexican Gold (Medaglia d'Oro). Moorside, who was a 90,000gns purchase by BBA Ireland at the 2017 Tatts December Mares Sale, also has a yearling colt by New Bay (GB) who sold for 150,000gns to Joe Foley at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale, and a filly foal by Australia (GB).

Saturday, Newmaket, Britain
JUDDMONTE ROYAL LODGE S.-G2, £125,000, Newmarket, 9-30, 2yo, c/g, 8fT, 1:37.06, g/f.
1–GHOSTWRITER (IRE), 128, c, 2, by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
      1st Dam: Moorside (GB) (SP-Eng), by Champs Elysees (GB)
      2nd Dam: Marching West, by Gone West
      3rd Dam: Zaizafon, by The Minstrel
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (100,000gns Wlg '21 TADEWE). O-J C Smith; B-Norelands Bloodstock & Irish National Stud (IRE); T-Clive Cox; J-Richard Kingscote. £70,888. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $112,176. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Al Musmak (Ire), 128, c, 2, Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Parton (GB), by Kitten's Joy. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (95,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £26,875.
3–Capulet, 128, c, 2, Justify–Wedding Vow (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith; B-Orpendale, Wynatt & Chelston (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. £13,450.
Margins: 1 1/4, HF, HD. Odds: 3.33, 7.00, 1.75.
Also Ran: Macduff (GB), Son (GB), Defiance (Ire), At Vimeiro (Ger), Aablan (Ire), Caviar Heights (Ire).

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4th-Dundalk, €15,000, Mdn, 8-15, 2yo, 8fT, 1:41.46, st.
CAPULET (c, 2, Justify–Wedding Vow {Ire} {GSW-Ire & G1SP-Eng, $316,572}, by Galileo {Ire}). O-Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Orpendale, Wynatt & Chelston (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien.

There are fascinating stories of grand palaces and chateaux hidden in the name of multiple-winning filly Vaux Le Vicomte (GB) (Lightning Spear {GB}). The Clairefontaine winner is out of Tuileries (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), namesake in real life to what is now known mostly as a wonderful public garden in the center of Paris, but that once was a royal palace with more historical memorable moments than any architectural wonder of the world –destroyed during the Paris Commune revolt of 1871. Vaux-Le-Vicomte, southeast of Paris, on the other hand, is still standing, but only just. This property was the manor marvel that provoked the jealousy of the Sun King Louis XIV towards the owner (and his Minister of Finances) Marquis Nicolas Fouquet (1615-1680), with the building of the magnificent Palace of Versailles being the ultimate consequence of it–according to legend and Alexandre Dumas, who placed the masterful climax of his Man In The Iron Mask narrative in the middle of a grand fete at the castle on 17 August 1661 in the novel “The Vicomte De Bragelonne” (1850) (a worthy sequel to “the Three Musketeers”, with aging D'Artagnan at his very best). Quite a lot to live up to for this brave young filly.

3rd-Clairefontaine, €28,000, Cond, 8-14, 3yo, 8fT, 1:37.70, g/s.
VAUX LE VICOMTE (GB) (f, 3, Lightning Spear {GB}–Tuileries {GB}, by Cape Cross {Ire}). O-Rangio Farm SRL; B-Grundy Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Maurizio Guarnieri.

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“We liked the second horse a lot and we knew we needed something to take him and stretch him a little bit,” O'Brien revealed. “They didn't go very fast for the first half and turned it on from halfway, so he learned a lot. We were surprised the first day that he ran in the Curragh how babyish he was, he never took a hold of the bridle. Today he was green as well, but a lot better. We think the race will leave him in a very good place. I'd imagine he'll go for the Futurity Trophy, we did it with Auguste Rodin last year, but we knew this horse had to learn a lot more than Auguste did last year.”

Of Capulet, he added, “He's a good horse. He won first time at Dundalk and we liked him. He's out of a good Galileo mare and we thought he was a fair horse. Seamus liked him a lot today. He's a typical Justify, the minute you go beyond seven furlongs they seem to grow another leg. They are really Classic-bred middle-distance horses and you'd have to be really happy with him also.”

Two from two for Diego Velazquez in an exciting finish to the @KPMG_Ireland Champions Juvenile Stakes!

A 1-2 for Ballydoyle with Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore off the mark at @LeopardstownRC #IrishChampionsFestival pic.twitter.com/oFr0i2Mb3y

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 9, 2023

Pedigree Notes

Diego Velazquez, who at 2.4million gns was upstaged only by Godolphin's 2.8million gns purchase at the Tatts Book 1 Sale, is currently the last known foal out of the Listed National S. winner and GIII Appalachian S. and G3 Princess Margaret-placed Sweepstake whose own dam Dust Flicker (GB) (Suave Dancer) is a full-sister to the G3 Prix de la Nonette scorer Dust Dancer (GB). She is in turn the second dam of the stable's G1 Phoenix S.-winning sire Zoffany (Ire), Frankel's G2 Futurity S. winner and G1 Irish Derby runner-up Rostropovich (Ire) and the G3 Bengough S. winner Projection (GB) also by Acclamation, while Dust Flicker's half-siblings include the G3 Fred Darling S. winner Bulaxie (GB) (Bustino {GB}).

Bulaxie produced the G2 Premio Lydia Tesio winner Claxon (GB) (Caerleon), who is responsible for the GIII Hillsborough S. scorer Cassydora (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), in turn the dam of the multiple group-winning stayer Ernest Hemingway (Ire) by Frankel's sire Galileo (Ire) and the G3 Prix d'Aumale scorer Toulifaut (Ire) by Frankel himself. Recent updates to this illustrious dynasty have been provided by the G1 Moyglare Stud S. and G2 Debutante S.-placed Sunset Shiraz (Ire) (Time Test {GB}) and by one of this year's faster juveniles Elite Status (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), who took the G3 Prix de Cabourg and has been placed in the G2 Norfolk S. The winner probably has more pace than the aforementioned Broome, whose long career has featured a win in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, and also this year's G2 Huxley S. scorer Point Lonsdale who placed in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. and G1 Coronation Cup.

Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
KPMG CHAMPIONS JUVENILE S. (GOLDEN FLEECE S.)-G2, €150,000, Leopardstown, 9-9, 2yo, 8fT, 1:40.46, gd.
1–DIEGO VELAZQUEZ (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Sweepstake (Ire) (SW & GSP-Eng & US, $114,162), by Acclamation (GB)
2nd Dam: Dust Flicker (GB), by Suave Dancer
3rd Dam: Galaxie Dust, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (2,400,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Smith, Magnier, Tabor, Westerberg & Brant; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €90,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $109,221. *1/2 to Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}), G1SW-Fr, MGSW & G1SP-Ire, GSW-Eng & UAE, GISP-US, $2,788,778; and Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}), MGSW & G1SP-Ire, GSW & G1SP-Eng, $439,967. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Capulet, 131, c, 2, Justify–Wedding Vow (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith; B-Orpendale, Wynatt & Chelston (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. €30,000.
3–Atlantic Coast (Ire), 131, c, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Liwa Palace (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Al Shira'aa Farms (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €15,000.
Margins: HF, 3 1/4, HD. Odds: 0.53, 9.00, 5.00.
Also Ran: Deepone (GB), Bremen (Ire), Formal Display (GB), Democracy (Ire). Scratched: Bad Desire (Fr).

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14.33 Deauville, Cond, €34,000, 2yo, c/g, 7 1/2fT
Baron Edouard de Rothschild's ALCANTOR (FR) (New Bay {GB}), a half-brother to G2 Union-Rennen winner Boscaccio (Ger) (Mount Nelson {GB}), looked a class act when elevated to 'TDN Rising Star' status going seven furlongs at Saint-Cloud in June, but lacked a finishing kick behind subsequent G3 Prix de Cabourg third Havana Cigar (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) over six at Chantilly in early July. The March-foaled bay, who hails from the family of dual G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}), was withdrawn from a one-mile contest at Clairefontaine earlier in the month and sidesteps Thursday's Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage at this venue. He faces a stiff task in his quest for redemption and is the only one of six contenders to have not won last time out.

15.00 Nottingham, Mdn, £6,850, 2yo, f, 6f 18yT
Godolphin homebred CRYSTAL OF TIME (IRE) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is out of the stakes-winning Important Time (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and thus a half-sister to, and Charlie Appleby stablemate of, last term's GI Saratoga Derby Invitational hero and recent G1 Bayerisches Zuchtrennen victor Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). Her four rivals include George Boughey trainee Rose Branch (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who is out of a full-sister to G1 Oaks heroine Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).

15.10 Dundalk, Mdn, €15,000, 2yo, 8f (AWT)
Aidan O'Brien trainee CAPULET (Justify) is a son of G2 Kilboy Estate S. victrix and G1 Nassau S. runner-up Wedding Vow (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), herself a full-sister to G1 Derby hero Serpentine (Ire). He opens up in a contest won last year by the stable with subsequent G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud third and G1 Irish Derby and G1 Grand Prix de Paris second Adelaide River (Ire) (Australia {GB}). Opposition includes the twice-raced Huxley (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a half-brother to G1 Prix Ganay-winning sire Cloth Of Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who ran fourth behind the 'TDN Rising Star' display of subsequent G2 Superlative S. winner City Of Troy (Justify) at the Curragh last month.

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