Mark Johnston | Horse Racing Free Tips

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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Derby Still Plan For Gear Up

Group 1 winner Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) is still pointing to the G1 Cazoo Derby over 1 1/2 miles on June 5, according to connections. The colt, who won the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud over 10 furlongs last term, ran fifth in the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. at York in mid-May. The bay also scooped the G3 Tattersalls Acomb S. at two.

Charlie Johnston, son and assistant trainer to father Mark, said, “Gear Up is still Epsom bound. Although he is a 33-1 shot, I think, he deserves his place in the line-up as a Group 1-winning 2-year-old and it would be no surprise to see him finish in the money.

“I don't think he needs that kind of severe testing ground on which he won his Group 1 on last season, it is more the fact it inconveniences other horses. The extra test of stamina here will suit him as we expect him to be a strong stayer at a mile and a half.”

Regarding the colt's performance in the Dante, Johnston added, “I thought it was one of those runs in the Dante at York that was not a bad run but it was not a particularly good run–it was just okay.

“I thought he was in a reasonably good pitch and I would have not swapped him three furlongs out. I thought of those chasing the leaders he looked the most likely at that point.

“The eventual first and second had another gear than him from two out and he plugged on one pace at the finish. He is sure to be better over an extra two furlongs.”

Noon Star Hoping to Shine Bright in Oaks
Another Classic aspirant who is sure to enjoy 1 ½ miles is Juddmonte's Noon Star (Galileo {Ire}), who is on target for the G1 Cazoo Oaks on June 4. From four starts to date, the daughter of MG1SW and Oaks bridesmaid Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) has a win over 8 ½ furlongs at Nottingham last October after running third on debut at Salisbury the month prior. At three, she captured a novice over 10 furlongs at Wetherby in April and ran second in the G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. at York on May 12.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Juddmonte, said of the Sir Michael Stoute-trained filly, “The family are happy for the filly to go for the Oaks, so in principle she will go but the final decision will be made over the weekend. It was a bit of a muddling race at York, but that having being said it was the same for everyone. We would have liked to have seen more pace but it didn't materialise.

“There is plenty of stamina in her pedigree and from that point of view a mile and a half in either the Oaks, and/or G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot should play to her strengths as it were. It was a smart enough race at York and she has come out of it in good shape.”

On the same day as the Oaks, William Muir's Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire})) will step out in the G1 Cazoo Coronation Cup S. The 4-year-old colt was second in the G2 Jockey Club S. at Newmarket on May 1. As a 3-year-old, Pyledriver saluted the judge in the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot and in the G2 Great Voltigeur S. on either side of an unplaced run in the G1 Investec Derby.

“Everything's gone to plan–his work's been great,” said Muir, who trains in partnership with Chris Grassick. “He's on target to go where we've said–right from day one, we've said that was his target, so he'll go to Epsom a week on Friday.”

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Yorkshire Cup The Friday Feature

York wraps up its three-day Dante meeting on Friday, with the G2 Matchbook Yorkshire Cup the dominant prize as the older stayers have their moment. Mark Johnston has made no secret of his passion for this category and 2021 promises to be his best year for some time with a trio of star names in the division hailing from Kingsley House Stables. While perhaps the chief member Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) is not on the Knavesmire, the other two are and his half-brother Sir Ron Priestley (GB) (Australia {GB}) has a definite edge over the stalwart Nayef Road (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Showing speed as well as stamina to take Newmarket's G2 Jockey Club S. over a mile and a half at the start of the month, Paul Dean's Sir Ron Priestley is back at the 14-furlong trip over which he suffered his last defeat when second in the G1 St Leger. Nayef Road, who was a head behind his stablemate when third in that Doncaster Classic, comes here on the back of a third reversal at the hands of the clear division leader Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) when also in that position in Ascot's G3 Sagaro S. Apr. 28.

Johnston's biggest problem this term is keeping the threesome apart. “We are very strong in the staying department and we did think that Sir Ron Priestley, Nayef Road and Subjectivist might all meet in the [G1] Gold Cup, but that's now looking very unlikely, because Sir Ron Priestley probably won't go that far,” he revealed. “It's great to see him demonstrating so much speed and his next runs after the Yorkshire Cup are quite likely to be at a mile and a half, with the [G2] Hardwicke S. a probable next target. It's been very satisfying getting him back in such good form after missing last year–he's given the impression he's in the form of his life and he's certainly rated higher than ever.

“Nayef Road is in good enough form too and ran really well in the Sagaro S. at Ascot and it's just a case of finding the best spots for all three horses.”

Ballydoyle's Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) offers the sternest threat to the Johnston pair, even if his return effort when fourth in Navan's G3 Vintage Crop S. Apr. 25 left some doubt as to whether he can make a serious mark in these type of races in 2021. Having also contested a St Leger, the G1 Irish Derby winner was on the premises in a strong renewal when fourth at Doncaster in September having also been third in the G1 Goodwood Cup attempting in vain to upset Stradivarius on favourable weight-for-age terms in July. “Hopefully he'll have come forward from his first run at Navan. He was keen enough there, with it being his first run and we know the trip is no problem,” Aidan O'Brien said.

Also on the card is a fascinating edition of the Listed Oaks Farm Stables Fillies' S., with the near-mile contest registered as the Michael Seely Memorial attracting two 'TDN Rising Stars' in Snow Lantern (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Love Is You (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). The former went through her Newbury maiden in the style of a class act, with the highly-regarded Derab (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and the subsequent winner Fantastic Fox (GB) (Frankel {GB}) put in their place over this trip Apr. 18. Love Is You was taken out of the 1000 Guineas reckoning following her third in the seven-furlong G3 Nell Gwyn S. at Newmarket Apr. 14, but Normandie Stud's Listed Radley S.-winning homebred is on track for the G1 Coronation S. that her dam Fallen For You (GB) (Dansili {GB}) captured in 2012.

Leopardstown's 14-furlong Listed Saval Beg Levmoss S. also features some possible Gold Cup hopefuls, with Ballydoyle's G1 Epsom Derby third Amhran Na Bhfiann (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) tackling last year's G1 Melbourne Cup hero Twilight Payment (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and the returning dual G1 Irish St Leger heroine Search For a Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

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Coming Soon in High Definition

One of the past week's most talked-about horses is available for public scrutiny on Thursday as 'TDN Rising Star' High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) reappears in Thursday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. at York.

Originally scheduled to tackle Lingfield's undulations on Saturday, the unbeaten G2 Beresford S. winner instead races over this contrastingly flat terrain with an abnormal blood count amounting to a minor fork in the road. Hot favourite for the Derby prior to his setback, he now faces a race to restore his position at the head of the pecking order after fellow TDN Rising Star Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was so impressive at Leopardstown on Sunday. “Obviously everybody knows the plan was originally to go to Lingfield on Saturday with him. We couldn't do that, so now he is going to York,” Aidan O'Brien commented. “We're just glad to get him out and then we can see where we go from there.”

Teme Valley's Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) has winning course form, having captured the G3 Acomb S. in August and he had Bolshoi Ballet behind as well as the significant subsequent scorers Makaloun (Fr) (Bated Breath {GB}), Sweet Lady (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Best of Lips (Ire) (The Gurkha {Ire}) when taking a competitive edition of the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud in October. “It looks a competitive race, but he's been here twice before and won both times,” trainer Mark Johnston said. “The ground shouldn't trouble him. I think a mile and a quarter is most probably his minimum trip now, but it's a stepping stone to run in the Derby next.”

Adding ballast is M M Stables' Apr. 23 G3 Sandown Classic Trial winner Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}), while representing Godolphin is the unbeaten Apr. 16 Newbury conditions scorer Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). The latter's trainer Charlie Appleby said, “We are pleased with how Hurricane Lane is coming into this race, off the back of a nice win on his seasonal return. He has come forward for that run and we feel that the track and ground at York will suit. It's the next test for him to see where he is going to end up over the forthcoming months.”

Jim Bolger's runners can never be ignored and it will be possible to put Bolshoi Ballet's form into some sort of perspective as the G3 Eyrefield S. winner Flying Visit (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}) was 2 1/4 lengths off that Ballydoyle runner when second in the G3 Ballysax S. at Leopardstown Apr. 11.

Also on York's card is the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' S., which lacks the star it often attracts. Aidan O'Brien sends over the 14-furlong G3 Stanerra S. winner Passion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was also third in the G1 Irish Oaks and G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. at a mile and a half. “She was very consistent last year and seems in good form, but she's just ready to start,” her trainer said. “She's versatile regarding trip, but I imagine as the season goes on she'll be stepping back up. A mile and a half is probably her best trip.”

In an open race, Cheveley Park Stud's 'TDN Rising Star' Cabaletta (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) is an interesting contender reverting in trip. “She's in great form and has been training really well,” trainer Roger Varian said of the Listed Apthrodite S.-winning daughter of Allegretto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who improved markedly with age. “She's a filly who stays a mile and a half, but she's not short of pace and her runs over 10 furlongs as a 3-year-old were very good.”

Later at ParisLongchamp, the 12-furlong G3 Prix d'Hedouville sees last year's G1 Deutsches Derby hero and Arc runner-up In Swoop (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}) renew rivalry with Godolphin's Sublimis (Ire) (Shamardal) having come off second best on his comeback in the course-and-distance Listed Prix Lord Seymour Apr. 18.

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