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Derby Favourite Desert Crown Leaves Connections Purring After Gallop

Connections of G1 Cazoo Derby favourite Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) were left purring after a scintillating exercise gallop on Thursday as Sir Michael Stoute put the finishing touches on what could become the legendary trainer's sixth win in the Classic.

Stoute will forever be remembered for managing Shergar (Ire) to win the Derby in 1981 and followed up on that breakthrough success in the race with Shahrastani (1986), Kris Kin (2003), North Light (Ire) (2004) and Workforce (GB) (2010).

Desert Crown advertised the trainer's claims of bolstering his Derby record when running out an ultra-impressive winner of the Dante at York a fortnight ago and, despite not normally being the flashiest in his work at home, is reported to have sparkled in a gallop at Newmarket on Thursday.

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to Desert Crown's owner Saeed Suhail, said, “He went nicely and everyone is happy. He went on the watered gallop and we're very pleased with him.”

A best-priced 9-4 chance for the Derby on Saturday week, Desert Crown was ridden in the key workout by Richard Kingscote, and is understood to have pulled well clear of group-winning stablemate Solid Stone (Ire) (Shamardal), ridden by Ted Durcan.

It was on that same watered gallop that Stoute readied all five of his Derby winners and, similar to the 76-year-old trainer's first winner of the Classic, Desert Crown will be bidding to emulate Shergar in winning the race off the back of just two starts.

Raymond, who was one of a small group of onlookers to witness the morning workout, added, “He's not a great worker, but I believe everyone was very happy with him this morning, both the jockey and Sir Michael.”

Masekela Given Derby Mission

Masekela (Ire) (El Kabeir) has been confirmed to be on course to take on Desert Crown in the Derby by Andrew Balding after the colt passed a stalls test.

Winner of the Denford S., Masekela was also a short-head second to Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the Superlative S. as a 2-year-old and returned to finish an encouraging runner-up to Eydon (Ire) (Olden Times {GB}) in the Feilden S. in his first outing at three.

Although withdrawn at the start of the G2 Dante S. earlier this month, his intended Derby prep, Balding has now confirmed it is all systems go for Epsom.

Balding said, “He passed his stalls test on Monday and that (Derby) is the intention. I think the horse has improved a good deal since Newmarket, especially in his home work. Obviously, there are stamina question marks on his sire's side, but also some room for optimism on the dam's side.”

He added, “I've been impressed by the way he has worked since the Feilden S. and on his 2-year-old form he's not a million miles away from at least deserving his place in the field.”

Meanwhile, Charlie Hills has swooped to book Tom Marquand for 50-1 outsider Sonny Liston (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), who is set to be the trainer's first runner in the Derby.

Hills said, “We all know how well Tom is riding at the moment. He's in great form, is riding with huge confidence, and those are things you can't beat really. We're really looking forward to having him in the saddle next Saturday.”

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Clover to Roll The Big Dice With Rogue Millennium in the Oaks

Tom Clover enjoyed his greatest day on a racecourse when emerging star Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) advertised her Classic credentials when landing an Oaks Trial at Lingfield last month and now the trainer is looking forward to rolling the big dice at Epsom.

A Shadwell castoff who was picked up for just 35,000gns at the Mares Sale at Tattersalls last December, Rogue Millennium has already proved to be one of the finds of the season, building on her debut success at Wetherby to run out a gritty winner of the Listed SBK Oaks Trial Fillies' S. at Lingfield last month.

That win represented her trainer's biggest yet and new dreams abound with the rapidly-progressive filly who is just 16-1 to provide Clover with Classic glory when she lines out in the Cazoo Oaks on June 3.

“Rogue Millennium seems very well. I'm very pleased with her,” Clover said.

“She physically looks great. I think she's come on since Lingfield. She continues to improve and all being well she's very much on course [for the Oaks].”

Clover, who is based in Newmarket, began training in 2016 and is looking forward towards running what is officially the best horse he's had through his hands in the Oaks.

He added, “I've been very happy with her and we just hope for a smooth run-up. You know what it's like with horses, until you get there and put the saddle on and get in the paddock, there's so much that could go wrong. I'm pleased with her work and we're really excited to run her.”

John and Thady Goden appear to have a stranglehold on the Oaks with Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a short-priced 10-11 ante-post favourite, and 9-2 chance Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) heading the betting for the Epsom Classic.

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Highclere Rely on Royal Patronage as Lysander Ruled out of the Derby

Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett (GB) will carry the hopes of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing in the G1 Cazoo Derby on Saturday week after connections ruled out running the promising Lysander (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) in the Epsom Classic.

Runner-up to Derby favourite Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the Dante S. at York a fortnight ago, Royal Patronage will bid to reverse that form at Epsom, while Listed Cocked Hat S. third Lysander will be aimed at Royal Ascot following his defeat at Goodwood.

Highclere's Harry Herbert said: “We had high hopes for Lysander and we still do, it was just very frustrating when the rain arrived at Goodwood.

“I think this horse has such a good action and he was slightly all at sea off that slow pace when they really quickened it up, but he still ran a hell of a race. We're not going to the Derby with him now and will head to either the Hampton Court or the King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot.”

Herbert added, “He had a hard race the other day in sticky ground and William just feels going to Epsom would be the wrong move for the horse right now. He's very talented and we never like turning down the Derby, but we'll take a longer term view.”

Royal Patronage was beaten a little over three lengths behind Desert Crown in the Dante and remains a 25-1 shot for the Derby.

Herbert is not necessarily expecting the Highclere runner to reverse that form, but does feel he has been underestimated in the market.

He said, “He'll definitely run there, all being well. I spoke to Charlie Johnston on Tuesday morning and he tells me he's in very good form.

“He won impressively at Epsom last year, so he's handled the track pretty well and we're hopeful that he'll stay the mile and a half. If he does, he could give everyone a lovely shout”

Herbert added, “We feel the rhythm of the Dante possibly didn't suit him as they went slow and then really sprinted, but take nothing away from the winner, who won well and deserves to be Derby favourite.

“It's a difficult race and anything can happen, as we've seen so many times before. I think we're probably too big a price for a talented horse who is proven on the track.”

One who could still turn up at Epsom is Godolphin's Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) who came through a workout on Wednesday morning and a decision on whether to supplement him will be made in the next 48 hours.

Charlie Appleby said on Godolphin's Twitter account: “Nations Pride has impressed in his work at Moulton Paddocks this morning with William Buick on board. A decision will be made in the next 48 hours whether he will be supplemented for the G1 Derby @EpsomRacecourse.”

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‘There’s Only One Derby’ – Appleby Leaning Towards Supplementing Nations Pride

Charlie Appleby has hinted at supplementing Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) for the Cazoo Derby on Saturday week and suggested that the decision hinges on how the colt performs in a key piece of work on Wednesday morning.

Nations Pride has won his last four starts and, while he did not take part in the gallops morning at Epsom on Monday, he dominated conversation with Appleby revealing that he was leaning towards stumping up the £75,000 supplementation fee to run in the Derby.

A general 10-1 chance for Derby glory, Nations Pride was a seven-length winner of the Newmarket S. last month, and could bid to give Appleby a third success in the Epsom Classic following the heroics of Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) in 2018 and Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) last year.

Appleby, who became the only trainer in history to win the English, French and Irish 2,000 Guineas with three different colts after Native Trail stormed home at the Curragh on Saturday, said: “Nations Pride was very impressive at Newmarket and he's in the French Derby, where we have Modern Games in as well.

“He'll work on Wednesday then we'll make a decision as to whether we supplement him for Epsom on Monday. We're hoping we will be-there's only one Derby and you only want to go there if you think you can try and win it. He has a great profile for the race and ticks the most boxes out of our three possible runners.”

Appleby's two Derby entries Walk Of Stars (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Nahanni (GB) (Frankel {GB}) were joined by Coronation Cup contender Manobo (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the exercise morning at Epsom on Monday.

Speaking about his team, he said, “Walk Of Stars has all the ability in the world and we've always felt he has the engine to do something exciting.

“He would be put down as disappointing at Lingfield but he's still very much a work in progress and we brought him here today to get some more experience under his belt before the big day. He finds everything very easy and handles these undulating tracks well.

“As an individual, he's very much like Adayar–he's a big, scopey horse and surprisingly handles these tracks well. He's agile and switches his leads smoothly.”

He added, “Nahanni has had cheekpieces and blinkers on in the past and he's a different animal when he turns up at the track because at home he'd have a job to warm himself up in a gallop. Adam [Kirby] was very pleased with him there and he has track experience.”

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