Classic Winner Kameko Tops 17 Early Entrants For Saturday’s Investec Derby

QIPCO 2,000 Guineas hero Kameko was the headline act amongst the 17 entries submitted Monday for Saturday's Group 1 Investec Derby at Epsom, as he seeks to double up his Classic success.

The son of Kitten's Joy will be partnered by regular rider Oisin Murphy for trainer Andrew Balding.

The pair look to face a stiff challenge, most notably from impressive Lingfield Derby-trial winner English King, who will be the mount of Frankie Dettori. He won't be the only threat, however.

As is customary, Aidan O'Brien has entered a sizeable raiding team from Ireland including Mogul, Vatican City and Royal Ascot hero Russian Emperor. It will be fascinating to see which mount their number one rider Ryan Moore will be on board, and Saturday's impressive nine-length maiden winner Serpentine is among the possibilities.

Fairy-tale entrant Pyledriver will aim to complete his own Cinderella story; having been unsold at 10,000 guineas at the sales as a 2-year-old, before winning at Royal Ascot a fortnight ago. Veteran rider Martin Dwyer partners him, and will be looking to emulate his win in the race 14 years ago aboard Sir Percy.

Amhran Na Bhfiann, Armory, Emissary, Gold Maze, Highland Chief, Khalifa Set, Max Vega, Mohican Heights, Mythical, Serpentine and Worthily complete the entries.

In the Investec Oaks Aidan O'Brien holds a strong hand with four entrants – Peaceful, Passion, Ennistymon and most notably QIPCO 1000 Guineas heroine Love.

She could face up to 10 rivals, with hugely impressive Ribblesdale Stakes winner Frankly Darling appearing the most dangerous contender; especially as she's being handled by the red-hot Frankie Dettori and John Gosden partnership.

Bharani Star, Dubai Love, Gold Wand, Oriental Mystique, Queen Daenerys and Tiempo Vuela make up the other entries.

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Oppenheimer Looking To Complete Classic Collection

The Oppenheimer Family’s Hascombe and Valiant Studs has bred the winners of each of the British Classics bar one, and next Saturday it has an opportunity to complete the collection with Frankly Darling (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Investec Oaks.

Kicking things off in 1982 was On The House (Fr) (Be My Guest), who was campaigned by Anthony Oppenheimer’s father Sir Philip Oppenheimer and won the G1 1000 Guineas. The family also bred the G1 2000 Guineas winner Footstepsinthesand (GB) and G1 St Leger winner Harbour Law (GB), who campaigned for other connections, and in 2015 homebred Golden Horn (GB) won the G1 Investec Derby.

“I would absolutely love to win the Oaks–it’s the only British Classic we haven’t bred the winner of and it’s one of my big ambitions,” said Oppenheimer. “It won’t be easy, of course, but let’s hope this filly can do it.”

Frankly Darling, who is two-for-two this season and won the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot last week, is currently second choice behind Aidan O’Brien’s 1000 Guineas winner Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

“It was fantastic to watch [at Royal Ascot],” Oppenheimer said. “We thought she was useful, but to see her win the way she did was very nice. In these times that we’re in, to have a big winner like that was really good.

“I think that [the Oaks] is the intention at the moment, as long as the ground is suitable. We’ll see what the opposition is like nearer the time–there’ll be only one Hascombe horse and there might be 10 or more from Coolmore, which will be interesting.”

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Frankel’s Frankly Darling Wins the Ribblesdale

Having been narrowly denied in the Queen Anne, Frankie was quick to get off the mark at Royal Ascot 2020 on Anthony Oppenheimer’s Frankly Darling (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G2 Ribblesdale S. Free early racing in second, the 11-8 favourite had plenty in reserve when sent on with two furlongs remaining and was being eased late to record an impressive two-length success with the Ballydoyle pair Ennistymon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Passion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) second and third. John Gosden was enjoying a landmark 50th Royal winner, with Dettori now on 68.

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