High Definition (Ire) | Horse Racing Free Tips

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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Innisfree on the Comeback Trail

Group 1-placed Innisfree (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), second in the 2019 G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy in his last start, is making progress toward a start later this year, according to trainer Aidan O'Brien. Second at Naas in July of 2019, the colt broke his maiden at Galway in July and captured the G2 Beresford S. at The Curragh that September, just like his year-younger full-brother High Definition (Ire), who is headed to the G1 Cazoo Derby on Saturday. After his Vertem Futurity Trophy second, Innisfree sustained an injury in 2020 and has not graced the racecourse since.

He said, “He got an injury last year so we took our time with him and we had him nearly ready to run again in the spring, but he went a little bit off on us again.

“We had to back off him again. He's done very well physically and I'd imagine he's six weeks away from running. We're looking at the second half or quarter of the season.”

Innisfree does hold entries for the June 27 G2 Comer Group International Curragh Cup, Sandown's G1 Coral-Eclipse on July 3 and the G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown on Sept. 11. The 4-year-old bay has also been entered in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October.

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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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19 Stand Their Ground in G1 Cazoo Derby

There are 19 colts remaining in the 1 1/2-mile G1 Cazoo Derby at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 5.

Leading the way is current favourite and G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial S. hero Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), one of six for Aidan O'Brien and the various Coolmore partners. Joining the G3 Ballysax S. victor from Ballydoyle are: former race favourite High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who won the G2 Beresford S. at two and was third in the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. to Godolphin's Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) on May 13; G1 Criterium International winner and G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up Van Gogh (American Pharoah); and the winners Sir Lamorak (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), The Mediterranean (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Besides Hurricane Lane, Charlie Appleby and Godolphin have also kept in the group-placed Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and the G3 Autumn S. winner and G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy S. second One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Adayar will be ridden by Oisin Murphy.

“Godolphin and Charlie Appleby have given me the ride,” Murphy told Sky Sports Racing. “I had a sit on him last week. He felt really nice-it was a sensible canter, but he's a gorgeous horse, improving type, bred for the job. I'm super excited to be involved in the race. I'd like to win a Derby-hopefully it's this year.”

Fresh off a win in the G1 Tattersalls Ireland 2000 Guineas, Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), who won the Vertem Futurity Trophy S. at two, will contest the Blue Riband for Jim Bolger. Mark Johnston's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud scorer Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) is another to take his place in the Epsom showpiece for owner Teme Valley. Ahmad Al Shaikh's Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who won the G3 Chester Vase S. on May 5 for Andrew Balding, is also slated to start.

Anamoine Limited's John Leeper (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), a son of 2010 G1 Oaks heroine Snow Fairy (Ire) (Intikhab) and named for trainer Ed Dunlop's father John, also stands his ground. He won the Listed Betway Fairway S. on May 15. Other listed winners set to take part are: Group 3 winner and May 21 Listed Cocked Hat S. victor Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for Martyn Meade, Aquis Farm and Ballylinch Stud; Listed Betfair Newmarket S. victor Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) for the William Haggas/Shadwell axis and Roger Varian and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Third Realm (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who saluted in the Listed Novibet Derby Trial S. on May 8.

Rounding out the field is the winner Southern Lights (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) for Aquis Racing, Al Mamoura Partnership and Joseph O'Brien; Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) for Richard Hannon and Amo Racing Limited; and Luke Comer's Seattle Sound (Ire) (Australia {GB}).

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