Classic Action Centre Stage On Saturday

Saturday sees racing continue its measured defiance of the chaos around the globe, with the 241st renewal of one of the beautiful races, the G1 Investec Derby, emanating light as a beacon to the world’s audience from its traditional home of Epsom Downs in Surrey. As it is, this will likely be the only post-Royal Ascot one, which adds a fascinating new dimension to a dramatically purse-reduced renewal and also to the stage-sharing G1 Investec Oaks. Due to the vagaries of the current situation, only one of the 24 colts and fillies lining up for the two mile-and-a-half Classics raced pre-lockdown and that is the Laurie Macri colour-bearer Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). There has barely been time to draw breath for protagonists and connections alike since the wheels began turning again in England at the start of last month. Russian Emperor, who got the jump on his peers with a maiden win on the season-opening Mar. 23 Naas card that turned out to be a false dawn, ironically has been one of the busiest since racing resumed in his native Ireland. One of three in the Derby who will be having their third start in less than a month, he is also one of four Royal Ascot winners bidding for a unique double, having taken a renewal of the June 17 G3 Hampton Court S. that had the feel of a replacement Dante.

Russian Emperor, who bears a striking resemblance to last year’s winner Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) as a Galileo son of an Australasian mare, this time the supremely-talented Atlantic Jewel (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), has the able assistance of man-of-the-moment Seamie Heffernan. Due to be confined to two weeks’ quarantine when returning to Ireland from Chantilly on Sunday night, the vital cog in the Ballydoyle machine could have at least one more Classic in the bag by then to add to his brace since racing returned. “The decision on what was likely to run wasn’t made until late, but I ended up with four rides in four Classics,” he said on Friday.

“I rode Russian Emperor as a 2-year-old and rated him extremely highly, but he got a nick that day and it put him off for the season,” he added. “He won from an impossible position at Naas and was a little bit unlucky [when second in the June 9 G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial] at Leopardstown. He goes there on the back of a win at Ascot, just like the Irish Derby winner, and he’s a proper ride in that he only uses what he has to until you have to go. He’s not a horse that wastes any gas. Epsom is a very peculiar track and they have to handle it, but I’m happy to be on him. The Guineas is the best Derby trial and we know the pedigree of Kameko, so I’ll be having a bit of a look at him.”

Despite the tight squeeze for most to get here, both the Derby and Oaks look at least up to standard and Qatar Racing’s Kameko (Kitten’s Joy) and Coolmore’s Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) add crucial Newmarket Guineas-winning stratum to their respective races. The Derby’s age-old quandary is present once again for connections of Kameko. Will he turn out more Sea the Stars (Ire) or Camelot (GB) than Dawn Approach (Ire) or Saxon Warrior (Jpn)? Only the hallowed span of just over two and a half minutes of galloping up and down, across and around the Downs will tell them and us.

Love has more cast-iron credentials to complete the sacred Classic double on pedigree, being by the mighty grass-class donor Galileo and a full-sister to two fillies who stayed even further in Peach Tree (Ire) and Flattering (Ire). Out on her own at the end of the June 7 G1 1000 Guineas, she appears rock-solid as long as the forecast overnight rain does not have too great an impact on the going. Her only achilles heel in 2019 seemed to be ease in the ground, as she floundered when it rode like that in the G2 Debutante S. and G1 Fillies’ Mile.

Aidan O’Brien has no concerns about the trip for Love and said, “Everything has been good with her and although it’s a big step up in trip, we always thought she’d be comfortable doing that. With a nice bit of ground, hopefully she’ll be happy. The gap between the Guineas and the Oaks also gives her a chance, she never missed a beat the whole way. The timing is lovely.”

O’Brien also saddles Evie Stockwell’s Ennistymon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was second in the G2 Ribblesdale S. ahead of stablemate Passion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and Heffernan gets the call-up on the former. “I’ve been very lucky for Mrs Stockwell and everyone is happy with Ennistymon,” commented the rider, who rode the dam Lahinch (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and whose high-profile successes in these colours include the 2016 G1 Cheveley Park S. on Brave Anna (War Front). “Her Ascot run was great, the trip and ground are good for her, so she just needs to shake a leg and she could collect.”

Coronation Of A King?

At war with Russian Emperor is English King (Fr) (Camelot), with Bjorn Nielsen’s bay looking in physique and performance as if he has been plucked from the mould of an archetypal, made-to-measure Epsom Derby colt. His June 5 Listed Lingfield Derby Trial success satisfied both the eye and the science in a rare symbiosis, but Thursday’s draw has to slightly temper the enthusiasm that had been steadily building. It may be that Frankie Dettori will need all of his tactical guile and experience to obtain an ideal spot the other side of the inevitable bunfight to the first left-hand bend. Trainer Ed Walker is only 37, but such is the intensely competitive nature of the sport it is not unrealistic that this could be the best shot at glory he will ever have. It is cruel fate that his great hope should be potentially compromised by post position in a race where the margins were already tight, but to his credit he was unfazed when quizzed on the subject on Friday. “I have to say the draw doesn’t worry me,” he stated. “Frankie’s not worried and the fact Ryan Moore didn’t choose his ride until after the draw and went for Mogul, who is next to us in two, suggests to me neither Frankie nor Ryan feel it is impossible to win from down there. Frankie has seen and done it all before. A few weeks ago I was expecting a smaller field, so it may be more tactical than normal, but then it’s always tactical in the Derby. We’ve got the right man on board to navigate the waters.”

“When you’re sent a colt by Bjorn Nielsen, you work back from the Derby,” Walker added. “Bjorn is a great man to train for, as everything is about the Derby–he’s either trying to produce fillies to produce him a Derby winner, or raise colts to win the Derby. It’s a simple remit. It hasn’t worked out too many times for me, but thankfully this time it has. This is the highest level for us, so it’s a real privilege to be here. We’re trying to contain nerves, but there’s a great buzz in the yard and there has been for weeks. There’s a buzz around Lambourn as William Muir has a live chance with Pyledriver, Paul and Ollie Cole have a runner and Andrew Balding isn’t far away and he’s obviously got a leading chance with Kameko, so it’s great.”

Dark Horses In Ballydoyle Brigade

Aidan O’Brien opts for safety in numbers once again, but that was also the case when Padraig Beggy delivered the goods on the stable’s 40-1 outsider Wings of Eagles (Fr) (Pour Moi {Ire}) three years ago and this is an operation that has no truck with established limitations. No other yard in Europe could saddle a maiden who has yet to achieve a placing in two starts in an Epsom Derby and it be considered anything other than a no-hoper. The colt in question is Amhran Na Bhfiann (Ire), whose form almost fades into insignificance alongside his profile as a 1.3-million gns Galileo full-brother to the 2012 Oaks heroine Was (Ire). He also has William Buick on board and is one of the select few to have a genuine Epsom pedigree, being linked to the 2008 Blue Riband hero New Approach (Ire).

While Amhran Na Bhfiann probably does lack the armoury to make a serious impact this soon in his career, the fact that he cannot be safely discounted despite being bottom of the pile only serves to underline the widespread respect that Ballydoyle command in 2020. One that is a step ahead of him at present is Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who also went two starts without making the frame prior to a nine-length destruction in a 10-furlong Curragh maiden on Saturday. There is reportedly a good vibe around him and while O’Brien’s maidens customarily improve race-by-race, the four-week period that has preceded this event has witnessed them springing forwards. Tiger Moth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) made his own figurative leap to nearly win Saturday’s Irish equivalent and the Ballydoyle handler is probably in the dark as to how his sextet will end up here.

“Some are making serious progress from their first runs to the second,” commented the seven-times Derby-winning trainer, who with one more notch will leave the legendary trio of Robert Robson, John Porter and Fred Darling behind. “With some horses, especially Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), we’d have liked two races but it’s been unorthodox and we’ll find out a lot more on Saturday. Russian Emperor came out of his Ascot win well and he’s one we’re looking forward to seeing over a mile and a half. Vatican City (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is by Galileo, but he’s related to a lot of quick horses. Padraig rode him that day [when second in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas] and found it hard to pull him up, so it will be interesting. Often those you are sure of getting the trip might not have enough class. Mythical (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) is a good traveller, a classy horse, and Serpentine ran straight through the line at The Curragh and it’s going to be interesting watching him over a mile and a half as he’s a seriously well-bred Galileo. Amhran Na Bhfiann is a lovely big horse who we always thought would get the trip well. His one run this year was in a race which has worked out incredibly well. He’ll get better with racing.”

It has to be taken as read that Mogul, who was attracting support yesterday, is going to be a different proposition than the burly colt that finished fourth in the G2 King Edward VII S. Despite that, the re-opposing duo that were ahead of him in that 12-furlong Royal Ascot test on June 16 are themselves hardly the finished article. Fairytale candidate Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) has more to give whatever occurs here, while the third-placed Mohican Heights (Ire) (Australia {GB}) produced the kind of trial effort that is impossible to ignore.

Pyledriver’s trainer William Muir said, “I said from Ascot that to run here he would have had to come right back to his best at home–that includes putting weight on and he has done that. Because of how the season has turned out, we are able to have a Derby runner which might not have happened in an ordinary year because he would have had to have been supplemented. His time was good at Royal Ascot and he has come out of the race well.”

Andrea Atzeni takes the ride on Sun Bloodstock’s Listed Stonehenge S. winner Mohican Heights and he said on Friday, “Mohican Heights ran really well at Ascot and was doing his best work at the end. It was a bit stop-start and he stayed on nicely, so he’s definitely going to stay the trip and has come on for that run like all David Simcock’s horses do. David is very happy with him and we’re very hopeful.  He’s got a great mind and that’s what you need. It won’t be same as every other year, but with the owners being allowed back in it’ll be busy enough and it’s a long way down to the mile-and-a-half start, so you need to be calm.”

Cole On A High Again

It is 29 years since Generous (Ire) stormed to victory here and his trainer Paul Cole has the opportunity for a belated follow-up as he and son Oliver look to make history as the first training partnership to prevail. Jim and Fitri Hay’s Highland Chief (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) is another Royal Ascot winner to contest the Derby, this time slightly from leftfield having defied topweight in the June 18 Golden Gates H. inaugurated in this year’s specially-extended meeting. His performance in that 10-furlong contest puts him within shouting distance of Kameko and jockey Ben Curtis is understandably hopeful. “He was just a frame of a horse last year and his performance at Ascot was very good,” he said. “I was impressed with the way he finished out his race there, still showing greenness, and he’ll probably have learnt from that. Connections have given me the opportunity and my confidence is high at the minute. I think it’s a very open Derby this year and there are a lot of question marks over a few of them. My lad goes in there with some of the best form and comes out well on the figures.”

Fabulous Five

In the Oaks, Anthony Oppenheimer is looking for his own landmark with the Ribblesdale winner Frankly Darling (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Having bred the winner of all the other four British Classics, the operation started by his late father Sir Philip needs to complete the set. Off the mark at Newcastle on June 1, the homebred created a lasting impression 15 days later at Royal Ascot and her owner-breeder is full of hope. “It’s all happened very suddenly with her, but she’s absolutely fine–

John Gosden wouldn’t dream of running her if she wasn’t,” he commented. “Straight after the Ribblesdale, she immediately ate up and then the next day she ate twice as much. He’s more than happy she’s ready to go.”

Oppenheimer is hoping that her early antics at the Royal meeting do not re-surface here, having over-raced for the first part of that contest. “The fact she was keen early at Ascot is going to be one of the problems, a lot of the Frankels are like that, they do tend to pull and she’s very inexperienced,” he added. “Frankie’s seen it all and is a quick thinker. With a huge crowd on Tattenham Corner, that might have been a problem, but without it it might suit her. Love is obviously a very good filly and if she can reproduce her Guineas form she’ll probably beat us, but we’ve no idea. I’m not going to go, I’m going to stay and watch it at home with my family. They couldn’t all come with me. They were with me for the Derby and other big races I’ve won and they all want to watch it, so it would be sad if some were on course and others weren’t.”

Also at Epsom, the G3 Princess Elizabeth S. which is sandwiched between the two Classics plays host to Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s June 7 G1 1000 Guineas runner-up Cloak of Spirits (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). She was reportedly hindered by rain-eased going when fifth in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot 13 days later and trainer Richard Hannon said, “She ran with credit in the Coronation Stakes–I don’t think the soft ground suited her and she was a little bit keen. Hopefully she is not as keen this time. She has been on the Rowley Mile, so I don’t think the track will be a problem. She seems pretty adaptable in that sense and she is a good mover. She is probably the class act in the field–there are a few unexposed types in there, but they will have to be pretty good to beat her.”

One of those “unexposed types” that Hannon is referring to is Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Fooraat (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who defied a seven-pound penalty to double her tally over a mile at Chelmsford on June 8. Trainer Roger Varian is hoping the full-sister to Benbatl (GB) can measure up switched from the all-weather. “Fooraat is a nice filly. This is a tough track to have her first turf run on, but we are looking forward to running her and seeing how she goes,” he said. “I gave her an entry in the Coronation S., but I wasn’t sucked into running her there as I don’t think it would have been the right thing to do. This race looks right for her. I have a lot of respect for Cloak of Spirits, as she is the filly clear on ratings and was a good second in the 1000 Guineas, but the other fillies all look very similar. We do think she is a nice filly with a big future.”

Another ‘TDN Rising Star’, Godolphin’s Listed Empress S. winner Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), was eighth in the 1000 Guineas but trainer Charlie Appleby is hopeful the grey will back up her home reputation at some point this season. “She put up a pleasing performance in the 1000 Guineas. She has come out of that well and there is every chance she will come forward for it,” he said. “She brings plenty of experience with her against some more lightly-raced fillies.” Adding ballast to a fascinating contest are last year’s G3 Firth of Clyde S. and G3 Oh So Sharp S. winner Rose of Kildare (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), who was third in the G2 German 1000 Guineas at Dusseldorf on June 21, and John and Tanya Gunther’s June 12 Newbury novice scorer Love and Thunder (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}).

Fillies’ Sprint Lights Up Naas Card

At Naas, the G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies’ Sprint S. features a now-customary clash between three of the country’s leading stables, with Ballydoyle’s June 19 G3 Albany S. third Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) taken on by Ger Lyons’s June 18 Fairyhouse maiden scorer Luminesce (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) and Jessie Harrington’s June 20 Naas maiden winner Sussex Garden (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). The card also sees the same trio represented in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Naas Oaks Trial, with Gary Barber and Team Valor International’s Silence Please (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) having to give three pounds away having maintained her unbeaten record in Navan’s Listed Salsabil S. on June 10. One of Jessie Harrington’s star cast of 3-year-old fillies, she meets two Susan Magnier representatives in the Ger Lyons-trained June 13 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas fifth Even So (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Laburnum (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who hails from Ballydoyle. A full-sister to Roderic O’Connor (Ire), the latter scored on debut at Gowran Park on June 17 and could yet enter the Irish Oaks picture.

Closing the card is the G3 Coolmore Sioux Nation Lacken S., where the visiting Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) will be a warm order for the Tim Easterby stable after landing a gamble in style in Royal Ascot’s Palace of Holyroodhouse H. over five furlongs on June 19. Last year’s G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Millisle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) looks to get back on track after a fifth in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot on June 19 and if back on song will provide a test for the winner despite having a three-pound penalty.

Enable Put To The Test

Friday saw the final declarations for Sunday’s G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, with Juddmonte’s star mare Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) making her keenly-anticipated 6-year-old debut against six rivals. Her G1 Prince of Wales’s S.-winning stablemate Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was not declared by John Gosden, but the field is still strong with Godolphin’s impressive G1 Coronation Cup hero Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Ballydoyle’s G1 Juddmonte International winner Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) engaged. The latter is set to carry the colours of his part-owner Masaaki Matsushima, while further Japanese interest is added by the G1 Nassau S. heroine Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}). Restricted this year as a 4-year-olds-and-up race, the 10-furlong contest also features another high-class mare in Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

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English King Gets the Hoodoo Stall in the Derby

There was an unwelcome twist on Thursday for connections of the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial winner English King (Fr) (Camelot) as the draw for Saturday’s ÂŁ500,000 G1 241st Investec Derby imposed a widely-perceived “hoodoo” on Bjorn Nielsen’s bay. Ante-post favourite for Epsom’s Blue Riband, he will have to depart from the dreaded stall one after heading a field of 16 declarations. Qatar Racing’s G1 2000 Guineas hero Kameko (Kitten’s Joy) has been allocated gate 11, historically a far more favourable position which gives Oisin Murphy options from the break. Aidan O’Brien’s team of six includes the ‘TDN Rising Star’ Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who is the choice of Ryan Moore and that G2 Champion Juvenile scorer is drawn next door to English King in two.

In another unexpected turn of events, last year’s winning rider Seamie Heffernan will be at Epsom along with the 2017 hero Padraig Beggy and also Emmet McNamara which could result in a 14-day quarantine for them as they re-enter Ireland. Heffernan has live prospects of a repeat of his red-letter day on Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) 12 months ago on the G3 Hampton Court S. winner Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who will exit from stall six. Beggy, who got up late on the 40-1 outsider Wings of Eagles (Fr) (Pour Moi {Ire}), comes in for the ride on the fascinating G1 Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up Vatican City (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and he is ideally drawn in the middle in eight. McNamara is on Saturday’s impressive nine-length Curragh maiden winner Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and he could be the pace angle from stall 12.

English King and Mogul have statistical history against them, with no winner having come from stall two and only three from stall one since 1969. They are Blakeney (GB), Roberto and Oath (Ire) (Fairy King) and the latter came as long ago as 1999. Bare statistics don’t tell the whole story, however. Since 1990, nine horses drawn one or two have been in the frame, with one winning, which was the aforementioned well-backed 13-2 shot Oath in 1999. He was housed next to Dubai Millennium (GB) that day and the fact that the Godolphin megastar finished ninth had nothing to do with his draw. There have been only 11 runners to trade under 10-1 to come out of the first two stalls in that period and it is impossible to make a case that any of them would have won had they been positioned more towards the middle or in the high numbers.

Perhaps the experience of the unhappy trip of Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) from stall one in 2018 has been overplayed. Only fourth as the 4-5 favourite, the apparent wunderkind went on to show that he didn’t truly stay a mile and a half. The only other truly short-priced contender in the last three decades was Telecaster (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), who traded at 5-1 last year coming from stall two and he was tailed off last not because he had that post position but because he refused to settle. In 1998, when there were 15 runners, the 12-1 shot City Honours (Darshaan {GB}) exited from stall one and was beaten just a head by High-Rise (Ire) (High Estate {GB}). In 2009, Masterofthehorse (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) was drawn two and at 16-1 got into the frame just behind Sea the Stars (Ire), so a low draw is by no means disastrous.

What being drawn there does mean is that the horse has to have natural speed to gain an advantageous position heading to the right and then back down to the left. An ability to cruise from the start without over-racing, which Roberto exemplified in 1972 under Lester Piggott. We know that English King has gears, having registered impressive sectionals at Lingfield, and that he has the kind of calm and composed nature which will aid Frankie as he looks for that early pitch.

Kameko will be joined by stablemate Khalifa Sat (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}), who is re-opposed by Juddmonte’s Emissary (GB) (Kingman {GB}) having beaten that half-brother to Workforce (GB) in Goodwood’s Listed Cocked Hat S. June 14. Ahmad Al Shaikh’s bay is drawn 14 and is another likely to be pressing the pace under Tom Marquand who was jocked off English King.

Andrew Balding is aware of the magnitude of the occasion, coming 49 years after father Ian saddled Mill Reef to glory. “Both horses did their last bits of work on Wednesday morning and I’m very happy with both of them,” he said. “As the race draws closer I see more dangers every day but, fingers crossed, everything has gone well in the build-up.”

“There is obviously the stamina doubt over Kameko, but he’s very relaxed and that’s why we are inclined to give it a go,” Balding added of the June 6 Newmarket Classic winner who will be the 13th to attempt the unique double since 1990 and if successful only the third to do so. “There’s a genetic question mark and it will be answered on Saturday. If he was a keen horse and difficult to settle, we would not be attempting this. It’s a combination of mentality and genetic make-up as to how far horses can stay. Any horse that wins the Vertem Futurity, as he did, is considered a potential Derby horse. He stayed the mile well as a 2-year-old and also hit the line strong in the Guineas.”

Of Khalifa Sat, he said, “He had a slight setback in late winter and that certainly held us back a little bit, but he’s made up for lost time and I thought he won really well at Goodwood. He’s in great nick and deserves to take his chance.”

Earlier on Saturday, eight fillies will head postward for the ÂŁ250,000 G1 Investec Oaks, with Anthony Oppenheimer’s G2 Ribblesdale S. winner Frankly Darling (GB) (Frankel {GB}) leading the home defence from stall three. Ballydoyle’s contingent is again numerically strongest, with a trio headed by the impressive G1 1000 Guineas heroine Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who has drawn in stall five. Stablemates and Ribblesdale place-getters Ennistymon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Passion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will break from four and one respectively.

Away from the Aidan O’Brien-Gosden rivalry, Roger Varian has captured the imagination by declaring the duo Queen Daenerys (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Gold Wand (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}). Mohamed Khalid Abdulrahim’s Gold Wand beat Enable’s half-sister Portrush (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in a mile-and-a-quarter maiden at Newbury June 11, while Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s Queen Daenerys was runner-up in the Listed Pretty Polly S. also over that distance at Newmarket June 7.

“My two are nice fillies and we feel they deserve to take their chance,” their trainer explained. “Gold Wand’s a filly we’ve always thought the world of. She’s probably a touch unfortunate that in this unusual year she’s not had time to run twice before the Oaks. She would have been a filly to go on to an Oaks trial, but we didn’t have time to do that and I didn’t think she was one to have three quick runs. Everything has gone smoothly since she won at Newbury. She’s obviously got to take a big step forward, but I think she’s very talented and I’m hoping that she can overcome her inexperience and show what she’s capable of. She shows a high level of ability at home and we wouldn’t be running her in an Oaks unless we saw that from her. There’s only one Oaks and it’s very exciting for her owner.”

“Queen Daenerys has not done much wrong in her career and I thought she ran a nice Oaks trial in the Pretty Polly, when she needed the run and looked to be crying out for an extra two furlongs,” he added. “She had to dig in there after getting outpaced mid-race and could have easily dropped out, but she did her best work late on. She’s going to get better the further she goes. She’s quite uncomplicated and the drying ground will suit her. I think she will outrun her odds.”

Despite there being no crowds at Epsom in 2020, there is no time to relax for racecourse officials who have to impose a 24-hour exclusion zone around the track. Clerk of the course Andrew Cooper said, “There will be a 24-hour exclusion zone in force and we’ll have a stewarding presence around the perimeter. We’d ask everyone to do us a huge favour and stay away this year.” Cooper also had news about the likely going, adding, “The greatest likelihood is that we’ll be at or near good on Saturday. We’d need really heavy showers to soften it beyond the slow side of good. Friday looks basically dry and on Saturday morning there is the chance of light, patchy rain as a frontal system moves down from the north west.”

Final declarations for Sunday’s equivalent Classics at Chantilly were also announced on Thursday, with Godolphin’s G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains winner Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal) ideally drawn in stall one in the 17-runner €900,000 G1 Prix du Jockey Club and the Niarchos Family’s G1 Coronation S. heroine Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) getting the same post as she heads a field of 11 for the €600,000 G1 Prix de Diane Longines. Michael Tabor’s G1 Irish 1000 Guineas victress Peaceful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) sidesteps Epsom to line up in stall four for the 10 1/2-furlong test and Seamie Heffernan will make the trip to France from England to partner her. He also takes the ride on Saturday’s G1 Irish Derby fourth Order of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in the Jockey Club, one of a trio of Coolmore-owned colts in the 10 1/2-furlong Classic. They include the Listed Prix de Suresnes-winning ‘TDN Rising Star’ Ocean Atlantique (American Pharoah), who fared worst of the fancied runners from the draw in stall 14.

One of the Jockey Club’s fairytale stories is Team Valor International and Andre Brakha’s unbeaten  Hurricane Dream (Fr) (Hurricane Cat), who will break from 11 under Jean-Bernard Eyquem as he provides jumps trainer Mikael Mescam with a day to remember. His sole horse in training was impressive when earning his tilt in a course-and-distance conditions event June 14 and Mescam is full of hope. “He has had a good preparation, coming up slowly through the ranks and he hasn’t had a tough race,” he commented. “Having a recent run over 2100 meters at Chantilly was ideal. In the mornings, you can see that he is a good horse, but then we’re always amazed at how impressively he wins. I only have one flat horse and having a runner in this race was highly unlikely! We are fortunate to have him at the stable and the whole team has taken great care of him.”

Jean-Claude Rouget has opted to leave Shadwell’s impressive G1 Prix Saint Alary heroine Tawkeel (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) out of the equation for the Diane and rely solely on the operation’s Raabihah (Sea the Stars {Ire}). The May 14 Listed Prix de la Seine winner is drawn nine, while the same stable’s Listed Prix Finlande runner-up Vadsena (Fr) (Makfi {GB}) has fared worse in 11. Christophe Soumillon has decided to partner Vadsena over the other Aga Khan representative Ebaiyra (Distorted Humor), the June 10 G3 Prix de Royaumont scorer who will be providing Olivier Peslier with another opportunity of a first Diane victory.

Shadwell’s racing manager Angus Gold said, “We entered both Raabihah and Tawkeel in the Prix de Diane Longines, but Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum didn’t want to run them against each other. Raabihah was chosen, as Tawkeel has already won a Group 1 and she should run later in the month in Goodwood’s Nassau S.”

Alain de Royer Dupre is a master of winning this Classic, having done so on six occasions and is bidding to provide The Aga Khan with an eighth renewal. “Ebaiyra won the Prix de Royaumont very nicely and we are running because we think that she is talented,” he said. “We have followed our usual method to bring her to the race, bringing her up in condition just to the race day. The question is whether she is talented enough to be competitive in this race. There are a number of fillies who have never met on the track before, so it is difficult to compare them.”

Chantilly are also expecting good ground on Sunday. “The weather has been very unstable all week,” explained Matthieu Vincent, the racecourse and training centre’s director. “We will make a decision on Friday at 4 p.m. with Marin Le Cour Grandmaison, the track manager, on whether or not to water. The aim is to have good-to-soft ground at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning, heading towards good ground for the start of the meeting. Temperatures of 22 to 24c are predicted for Sunday with no rain forecast. The grass has been mowed to 10cm and there will be 10 metres of fresh ground on the inside. The last time that we used this ground with the rail at zero was on the 14th June. We have spent a lot of time cultivating the track during the lockdown, so there is a great grass cover.”

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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.

The post Classic Winner Kameko Tops 17 Early Entrants For Saturday’s Investec Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Kameko Pleases Balding In Kempton Gallop

Trainer Andrew Balding said he has “been really pleased” with Kameko (Kitten’s Joy) since his victory in the June 6 G1 2000 Guineas, and that the Qatar Racing colorbearer came through a racecourse gallop at Kempton on Wednesday well. He is aiming for the July 4 G1 Investec Derby.

“He went to Kempton [on Wednesday] for a gallop, which we did before Newmarket 10 days prior, and it went well,” Balding said. “We had the option of going to Epsom, they kindly offered, but I felt he needed a decent piece of work and I felt more comfortable doing that at a place we’d done it before. We played safe, went to Kempton and we’re perfectly happy with what he did.

“We were all thrilled. It was an easy piece for him, relatively speaking, he worked with the same lead horses he worked with before the Guineas–not group horses by any stretch–but he pulled clear very nicely. In terms of pointing to his fitness levels, he had a really good blow, he scoped clean afterwards, and I couldn’t be happier.”

Kameko is aiming to become the first colt to complete the Guineas/Derby double since Camelot (GB) in 2012. Just two others-Dawn Approach (Ire) and Saxon Warrior (Jpn)-have attempted it in the interim.

“Obviously there is no way of knowing [if he’ll stay the trip] until you try,” Balding said. “The figures show he’s very talented. The whole point of the Guineas and the Derby is that one is a test of speed and the other a test of temperament, stamina and agility. We’ve passed the speed test, now we’ve to pass the other.”

Balding’s father Ian is best known for training the great Mill Reef, who was second in the Guineas in 1971 before going on to win the Derby. Andrew Balding said his father has chimed in on his son’s Classic double attempt.

“My dad was saying, ‘why not gallop him over a mile and a half’ which is what they did in those days–Mill Reef did it between running in the Guineas and the Derby–but you can’t find it out at home, you’ve got to suck it and see,” the younger Balding said.

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