A triple Group 1 winner last year, Addeybb has not been seen since returning this spring from his latest stint in Australia, where he defended his title in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. and finished second in the G1 Ranvet S., both times over ground drier than his preference. Addeybb romped in last year's G1 Champion S. over the heavy Ascot going.

“He's fine and he's ready to race. We've had this in mind since he got back from Australia so we're pleased to be there,” Haggas told Sky Sports Racing. “I'd be pretty loath to take him out because he needs to race. You can't keep practising on the [Newmarket] Heath and in the nets and not get out in the middle. He needs a run.”

The Eclipse has come under some criticism this week for its small field size, but Haggas said he think it will be an intriguing clash of the generations.

“Here you've got a really top-class speedier 3-year-old [St Mark's Basilica] who's won two Classics and won the Dewhurst last year, so he's obviously a very good horse. You've got Mishriff, who won a French Derby and really excelled in Saudi Arabia and Dubai, and then our fella who keeps battling away and bashing away. He's as reliable a yardstick as you can get. If the ground came up soft, heavy in places, our chance would increase and maybe St Mark's Basilicia's wouldn't, so who knows what's going to happen.”

Haggas also provided an update on Shadwell's G3 Hampton Court S. winner Mohaafeth (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who goes next to the G2 York S. on July 24. Mohaafeth will be ridden by Dane O'Neill, with first-call stable jockey Jim Crowley required at Ascot for Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S.

“We knocked the Eclipse on the head last weekend and he's going to go for the Sky Bet race at York on July 24, which is unfortunate for Jim, but good for Dane, because that's the same day as the King George,” Haggas said. “The horse that won the King Edward [Alenquer] is hopefully going for the [G1] Grand Prix de Paris on July 14, so we've got a busy few weeks coming up.”

The G1 Coronation S. runner-up Al Aasy has the option to warm up for the King George in next week's G2 Princess of Wales's S., but his trainer said it is likely he will head straight to Ascot.

“The King George is very much the plan. Whether he goes for the Princess of Wales's S., I'm not sure–I doubt it,” Haggas said. “He'll probably go straight for the King George. He worked beautifully again yesterday and is on target to go where we want him. We just have to decide whether going to Newmarket might take the edge off him for Ascot, which wouldn't be sensible. My gut feeling is he'll probably go straight to Ascot.”

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“He hasn't run since Sydney in April so it was nice to get him away,” said Haggas. “It wasn't trying to get him fitter, it was just a mental thing as much as a physical thing. When you are looking at summer racing you need to be lucky to get rain on the day to make it as soft as he likes it. Running in the Eclipse will depend on how much rain falls. There is a balance between keeping training him and not running him. That's difficult.

“We hope very much that it will be very soft for the Eclipse but I very much doubt it will be. If the word soft is in the going he will probably run as he needs to run. Good to soft is the quickest I would run him on.”

Addeybb recorded his first two Group 1 wins at last year's Sydney autumn carnival in the Ranvet S. and Queen Elizabeth S., and relished the soft ground when taking the G1 Champion S. at Ascot in October. Haggas insisted the chestnut's title-defending win in this year's Queen Elizabeth over good ground was down to his class.

“He loves travelling and really enjoys it,” the trainer said. “He had a great spell in Australia this year on ground that wasn't soft enough for him but he tries hard. If the conditions had been like they are here he wouldn't have run. He can't take too many races on fastish ground. Summer ground is not really for him. Summer soft is different to autumn and spring soft when it is proper soft so Champions Day is right up his street as he loves that heavy ground. We sort of have to work our season around that.”

Should the ground rule Addeybb out of the Eclipse, Haggas has an able stand-in in the form of Shadwell's G3 Hampton Court S. winner Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), whose ground preferences are quite contrasting to his elder stablemate's.

“It is very possible Mohaafeth could run as he wants quick ground so we will see,” Haggas said. “I've not worked him yet so we will see what he is like. He was very good at Ascot.”

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“He worked on the July Course last week and I was very happy with him,” John Gosden said. “Touch wood, we're ready to go again. He has been remarkable. His win in the Sagaro was tidy, pleasant, and Frankie didn't ask him too much so let's hope he's ready for the big one again. I fear one thing for Stradivarius–thunderstorms–because he has this wonderful turn of foot after two and a half miles but the wet ground, soft ground, blunts it, so we'll see how we go.”

When it was deep ground on Champions Day, it was Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) who excelled with a 7 1/2-length romp in the Long Distance Cup as Stradivarius floundered. While that was a marked upgrade on his previous form, the Alan King-trained 5-year-old had previously hinted that he was at least not out of place in that line-up. Proving it was no fluke when 3/4-of-a-length second to Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) attempting to give that rival five pounds in the G3 Ormonde S. over an extended 13 furlongs at Chester May 6, he will not run if the rain fails to arrive in sufficient quantities to ease the current quick conditions. “I was extremely happy at Chester–it was a great performance giving weight to a Group 1 winner,” jockey Hollie Doyle said. “He's come out of that very well apparently and a bit of ease in the ground would be lovely.” Alan King added, “He's been declared, but we are very reliant on thunderstorms hitting Ascot. He's in great nick and I couldn't be happier with him, but if it doesn't rain he doesn't run. It will have to go to good, or good-to-soft.”

Mark Johnston likes to have a go at the reigning champion and tries again with the G1 Prix Royal-Oak hero Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), who came back this year just as strong when winning the G2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan Mar. 27. Back in fifth on that occasion was Team Valor Llc and Gary Barber's Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}), who has since beaten Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) in the G2 Yorkshire Cup over 14 furlongs May 14. “He did have an injury in that Dubai race,” Johnston said. “It's taken him a little while to come back from that and as a result we haven't had any race in between. I think this is the best horse I've gone to war with Stradivarius with. We know what a tall order that is–we've finished second to him so many times before. I won't be looking at tactics to beat Stradivarius, we've just got to hope that we've got the best horse on the day.”

Santiago is one of a trio from Ballydoyle and is reunited with Seamie Heffernan for the first time since winning last year's G1 Irish Derby. Relishing the soft ground when successful in the G2 Queen's Vase at this meeting 12 months ago, he will be interesting going over this marathon trip along with his G1 Epsom Derby-winning stablemate Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Supplemented last week, the latter is a rare blue riband winner tackling this prestige event and adds another dimension. “Obviously we won't know if Serpentine stays the trip until he runs over it, but we always thought he'd stay further than a mile and a half,” Aidan O'Brien said. “He seems to be in good form at home, he's had a run this season and we're hoping he'll run well. Santiago is in good form and this has always been the plan for him. He's had his two runs already this season and we've been happy with him since his last run at York.”

Andrew Balding said of Spanish Mission, “I thought it was a really good effort at York, but he faces some mighty opponents here in the likes of Stradivarius, Subjectivist, and Santiago, not to mention Serpentine, who I wasn't expecting. It's a really intriguing race, as a Gold Cup should be, but Spanish Mission is in great form. It's another two furlongs further than the Doncaster Cup, which he won last year, but I'd be hopeful that he'll stay.”

Ward Looks To Get Off The Mark

The day's action starts with the five-furlong G2 Norfolk S. for the 2-year-olds, where Wesley Ward and John Velazquez combine with the May 9 Belmont Park maiden special weight winner Lucci (Not This Time) who races for Andrew Farm, Forthepeople Racing Stable and Windmill Manor. Velazquez is hoping he will be able to cope with the ground if the forecast rain arrives. “He won very nicely on the grass in New York. It seems like we're probably going to get a little bit of rain tomorrow and hopefully he can handle that,” he said. Ward, who also saddles the Apr. 14 Keeneland maiden special weight winner Nakatomi (Firing Line) who races in the Qatar Racing silks, is still looking for his first winner of the week and said of his duo, “At home, we have been working Lucci and Nakatomi together. Nakatomi was coming out on top, but then they had a workout in Newmarket on the Limekilns and Lucci turned the tables. He just bounced straight through to the front and would not give up the lead.”

If it does go soft, that will count against Ballydoyle's Cadamosto (Ire) (No Nay Never) who has been withdrawn several times both before and after his impressive win over this trip on Dundalk's Polytrack Apr. 10. “This horse has missed a lot of potential engagements since winning on his debut at Dundalk in April and I really hope that the rain that is forecast from Wednesday night all through Thursday is not as bad as some are suggesting,” Ryan Moore said. “This is a colt we like and he really impressed me when beating a fair sort in Silver Surfer at Dundalk. He has a lot of class and speed and I expect him to go well.” Bond Thoroughbred's Project Dante (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) proved on his winning debut at York May 12 that he handles good-to-soft and his defeat of the re-opposing Korker (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) looks better now that the runner-up has won at Carlisle May 28.

Stars On The Rise

In the G2 Ribblesdale S., Juddmonte's 'TDN Rising Star' Noon Star (Galileo {Ire}) bids to go one better than her half-sister Mori (GB) who went under by a neck to Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in this four years ago. At the time of her 3 3/4-length second to Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G3 Musidora S. over an extended 10 furlongs at York May 12, there was an air of disappointment but subsequent events have since proven that to be highly respectable. In front of the subsequent G1 Epsom Oaks runner-up Mystery Angel (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) there, the daughter of Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) comes into this fresh after a late setback ruled her out of the Epsom Classic.

Aidan O'Brien saddles Divinely (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who ran third in the Oaks and who as a daughter of Red Evie (Ire) (Intikhab) has limitless potential. Ryan Moore said of her, “Aidan was expecting an improved performance from her at Epsom and she duly delivered it, again not having the best of passages but sticking on really well to be third. I know she was beaten a long way and she probably has something to find with the likes of Noon Star, a filly I have a lot of time for, but any rain won't bother her and she has a fair shot at this.” The Gosden stable has won three of the last four renewals and seems best-represented by Bjorn Nielsen's Gloria Mundi (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who was a neck second to Shadwell's Eshaada (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) in Newbury's Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies' Trial S. over 10 furlongs May 15.

William Haggas will be hoping the rain fails to materialise for another Shadwell jewel in Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who was forced to miss the G1 Epsom Derby when the storms hit Surrey and who heads the cast for the 10-furlong G3 Hampton Court S. Provided the ground stays at least good, his five-length defeat of the re-opposing Secret Protector (War Front) in the May 1 Listed Newmarket S. over this trip should be enough to see the famed silks back in the winner's enclosure at this meeting. William Haggas is again looking at his best plans being waylaid by the changeable weather and said, “He looks absolutely fantastic, he's ready to go. He obviously doesn't want much rain but he'll run, I promised Sheikha Hissa he'd run at Ascot regardless. It's just the way it is, it's typical. Everything has been good with him, he's in great form and he really is a lovely horse, we just won't see him at his best on soft ground but that's the way it is. He'll still run a good race, he's very well.”

If Mohaafeth underperforms, the answer could be One Ruler who did run in the Derby won by his stablemate Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Godolphin's G3 Autumn S. winner and G1 Futurity Trophy runner-up is back quickly after Epsom, in which he was a well-beaten sixth having looked unhappy on the track. Also sixth in the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket May 1, he will be at home if it rains and Charlie Appleby has now won the G2 Dante S. and G2 Queen's Vase alongside the Derby. “One Ruler has come out of the Derby in good shape and will appreciate the drop back to a mile and a quarter, together with any ease in the going,” he said. “We are confident that he can be very competitive under a [four-pound] penalty.” Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Movin Time (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) comes here with abundant potential, having beaten Wednesday's G2 Queen's Vase winner Kemari (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) by four lengths in a 10-furlong Newmarket maiden May 13 and Roger Varian has a useful bunch of 3-year-old colts to measure him against.

Varian also supplies a live contender for the Britannia H. over a mile in Amo Racing's Raadobarg (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}), who is looking for a fourth consecutive win, while Aidan O'Brien has opted to run the one-time Derby contender Sir Lamorak (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) under top weight in the 12-furlong King George V H. The latter looks a particularly strong renewal, but Ballydoyle ran Constantinople (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to be second two years ago giving weight away to all rivals. He went on to place in the G2 Great Voltigeur and G3 Gordon S. and it is easy to imagine Sir Lamorak treading the same path. “He also doesn't want much rain, but I think he has a big run in him if the ground remains decent,” Ryan Moore said. “He may be 15 pounds higher than when winning for me at Leopardstown back in April, but you had to be very impressed by what he did that day and I think he is a good colt and hopefully one better than his current mark of 100.”

Click here for the group fields.

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Beginning with Bolshoi Ballet, it is safe to say that Aidan O'Brien has not delivered as obvious a Derby talent since 2009 when Fame and Glory (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) went through the G3 Ballysax S. and G2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial with similarly authoritarian poise. Before him, Galileo, High Chaparral (Ire) and Yeats (Ire) also took that “old school” route with injury interjecting to stop the last of that trinity from following up in this prestige event. Bolshoi Ballet has the look of his sire–who also went it alone in 2001–about him and the dramatic show of faith that his team have placed in him speaks volumes. “He was always going to have those two races in the spring after travelling as a 2-year-old and he's very uncomplicated and relaxed, stays and quickens,” O'Brien said. “He has a very good mind and does everything right. He's happy to sit in or make the running–that's the way he's always been. You're never sure about anything and it is a new track for him, but Leopardstown is left-handed. Obviously it's not as extreme as Epsom, but you have to quicken and you have to go left and down the hill and up the hill and all that kind of stuff. We always thought he would stay, but he's a very good-moving horse with plenty of class and speed so the rain is not ideal. He did handle it okay in France last year and didn't fold up, so hopefully he'll be able to cope with it. It's another chapter in his career, so it will be interesting and we'll learn a lot from it.”

Remarkably, Ryan Moore has not ridden the stable's last three Derby winners and must have been downhearted to miss out to Frankie in both the English fillies' Classics so far, but there is no danger of being on the wrong one this time. “I don't see the extra two furlongs here being a problem and he is just a straightforward and very classy colt. Straightforward is what you want around here, while his draw in nine is just fine. If he runs to his form and the level we expect, then he should be going close but this is a Derby and you can't be complacent, especially against a whole host of unexposed horses as he faces here.”

Just a cursory glance at the racing results from March to now show that Ireland has a genuine edge over Britain across the board under both flat and National Hunt codes and therefore it is no surprise that Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) and Bolshoi Ballet enter this Classic as officially the two top-rated colts. Mac Swiney upset his own stable's G1 2000 Guineas hero Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) in the Curragh equivalent a fortnight ago and did so coming off a far-from-ideal preparation having scoped dirty after his below-par return in Bolshoi Ballet's G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown May 9. Friday's prolonged rainfall will have been a welcome sight to Jim Bolger, with the homebred seeming to excel on easy ground and he has everything in place for a big effort now. “You know how well he was a couple of weeks ago and he came out of that race very well and he's been fine since,” his owner, breeder and trainer said.

It is 27 years since the Shadwell silks were carried to success here, with the John Dunlop-trained Erhaab swooping five years after the great Nashwan had opened the operation's account. There have been few more visually stunning winners than the William Haggas-trained Mohaafeth in the May 1 Listed Newmarket S., an early prep which last saw the Derby hero in 1985 as Slip Anchor (GB) took it in en route. One of a Frankel trio with live chances, his five-length success in that four-runner contest in which at least two rivals under-performed is of either major or little significance and it will be impossible to tell until they have passed the post here. What he does have is a beautiful pedigree and temperament and all of the potential it is possible to possess. It is fair to say that of all the main principals, Mohaafeth was the one with connections least wanting this type of ground and their sense of anticipation has been dampened.

Ed Dunlop may not have trained an abundance of high-profile horses throughout his career, but most of his profession can only dream of having a Ouija Board (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) or Snow Fairy (Ire) (Intikhab). That the former has already produced a Derby winner in Australia (GB) only means that the onus on Snow Fairy is greater as her John Leeper enters this renowned theatre. When giving the dam's first colt his title, Cristina Patino was exercising the kind of prescience that graced the late Khalid Abdullah as he bestowed the name Frankel on his greatest Thoroughbred prize. John Leeper has come though the initial stage of his career fully justifying his owner-breeder's bold call and his deceptively impressive win in the May 15 Listed Fairway S. at Newmarket has only served to augment the level of enthusiasm surrounding the handsome homebred.

“It is probably one of the more interesting stories of the race. Having a horse named after my father is very exciting and it creates a little bit of pressure for everyone, but at the moment the horse has no idea there is any pressure on him so hopefully we can enjoy it,” Dunlop commented. “Of course it is quite emotional as well and it would be a great day if he could go on and win the Derby. The trip should be up his street, because his mum won the Oaks. I'd be surprised if there was any problem with the trip.”

Frankel's prospects of a first Derby winner are significantly boosted by the presence of Godolphin's Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who comes here as the winner of York's G2 Dante S. May 13. Although the importance of that extended 10-furlong prep has tended to wax and wane over time, the subsequent exploits of its winners Golden Horn (GB), Authorized (Ire), Motivator (GB) and North Light (Ire) and of the beaten Workforce (GB) have upheld its reputation as a blue riband trial of significance. Hurricane Lane showed a tenacity there which will stand him in good stead, especially with Friday's rain coming in the nick of time for the unbeaten chestnut. “As we saw in the Dante, his best work was in the last couple of hundred yards. Everything bodes well to step him up to a mile and a half and it might bring about further improvement,” Charlie Appleby said. “He lacks racing experience, but he has done well since York and one of his great attributes is he is laid-back. Sometimes, the occasion can get to horses on Derby Day but I don't think it will be any problem to him. I thought he showed character in the Dante. He's a colt you can put anywhere in a race, so he should adapt to any tactical moves.”

With the drastic change in the going, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Third Realm (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and Godolphin's Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who were first and second in the May 8 Lingfield Derby Trial staged on soft ground, come into play. It is also a boost to Teme Valley's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) who was fifth in the Dante, and to Godolphin's G3 Autumn S. winner One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) who was 3/4-of-a-length second to Mac Swiney in the G1 Futurity Trophy on heavy ground in October.

Third Realm's trainer Roger Varian said, “He's not a big horse, he's a small-to-medium colt. He's very well-balanced, he's got gate speed and I'm quite confident he's going to get the trip. He's versatile, he can relax in behind horses and has shown a turn of foot. He's pretty straightforward and I think he's the type of horse Andrea [Atzeni] could put anywhere, which is comforting, going into a race like this.”

Appleby said of his other duo, “One Ruler had a very good two-year-old profile. He was never out of the first three in five starts and the form with Mac Swiney, who recently won the Irish 2,000 Guineas, is very solid. I am confident he will be one of the last to come off the bridle. The trip is a big question mark, but if he is going to get a mile and a half he has got a good chance of getting it around Epsom. Adayar gained valuable experience in the two trials, particularly at Lingfield, where he fought on well. He will see out the trip really well. He is lightly-raced and with maturity will be a nice type. Placed in two Derby trials, he is worthy of his place in the field.”

The two supporting races, the G3 Princess Elizabeth S. for fillies and mares, and the G3 Diomed S., take place over an extended mile and in the latter Juddmonte's Maximal (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) will provide a last clue ahead of the main feature. Second to Hurricane Lane in a 10-furlong conditions event at Newbury Apr. 16, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained homebred had Tasman Bay (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) back in third on that occasion and that rival went on to be second to John Leeper in the Fairway. A son of Frankel's half-sister Joyeuse (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Maximal has his own agenda to work to and despite a few reversals he remains a colt of importance to his breeding operation dropping back in trip.

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Bolshoi Ballet would not have been considered Aidan O'Brien's No 1 Derby contender heading into this season, but he is now after successive Group 3 wins at Leopardstown in the P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes and then the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes.

The Galileo colt was especially impressive in the latter contest, quickening clear from three furlongs out to win by six lengths. Mac Swiney (fourth), Taipan (fifth), and Southern Lights (sixth) were all left trailing that day. Bolshoi Ballet is the general 2/1 favorite after those victories. Mac Swiney, a Group 1 winner at two, was a disappointment that day but he scoped dirty after the race. He re-established his claims with victory in the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday, when he had Van Gogh back in third.

Galileo has sired four Derby winners and, before excelling as a stallion, himself gave O'Brien the first of his record eight Derby victories in 2001, having won the Ballysax and Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial beforehand. High Chaparral followed the same path a year later, so Bolshoi Ballet would be reviving an established O'Brien blueprint if successful.

”He covered the last three furlongs quicker than anyone else in the race, so that is a very good sign for a horse like him.”

Aidan O'Brien discusses his leading lights heading to @EpsomRacecourse in June, including the likes of High Definition, Santa Barbara and Bolshoi Ballet

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 21, 2021

Since 2004, five Derby winners have contested the Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld Dante Stakes at York. Last week's renewal, won by the unbeaten Hurricane Lane, warrants close scrutiny. The Charlie Appleby-trained colt kept on dourly to beat Megallan, with High Definition, another O'Brien-trained son of Galileo, staying on to finish third. Gear Up, a Group 1 winner at two, was further back in fifth.

High Definition had been an intended runner in the Novibet Derby Trial at Lingfield, five days earlier, but an unsatisfactory scope ruled him out. In his absence, Third Realm, trained by Roger Varian, was a decisive winner from Adayar, with Kyprios a well-beaten fourth. The winner will seek to emulate Anthony Van Dyck, who won at Lingfield before his Derby victory in 2019.

William Haggas gained his first and, to date, only Derby success with Shaamit, 25 years ago. A couple of potential challengers will line up for him. Alenquer showed a good attitude to scoop the bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown Park last month when he had Adayar (second), Yibir (third), Lone Eagle (fourth) and Etonian (seventh) behind. The vanquished are all engaged at Epsom, but Alenquer will need to be supplemented if he is to take part.

Haggas is also responsible for the exciting Mohaafeth, who advanced his claims with an easy win in Listed company at Newmarket this month. John Leeper, named after trainer Ed Dunlop's late father, also won in the same grade at Headquarters last weekend to book his ticket.

Adding further depth is the Andrew Balding-trained Youth Spirit. He stayed on well to beat Sandhurst in the Group 3 Chester Vase and is owned by Ahmad Al Shaikh, whose Khalifa Sat finished runner-up in the Derby last year. Ruler Of The World (2013) and Wings Of Eagles (2017) ran in the Chester Vase en route to glory at Epsom.

Trials are, of course, only one part of the puzzle. However, they have certainly whet the appetite for what looks set to be a thrilling 2021 Cazoo Derby.

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That was the position breeder Philippa Cooper found herself in on Guineas weekend when Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) cantered all over his rivals for a cosy success in the listed Newmarket S. for William Haggas and Shadwell. And she admits it was with some shock that she experienced something close to déjà vu when another son of Frankel bred under her Normandie Stud banner won an even more prestigious trial on York's Knavesmire on Thursday to join his erstwhile paddock mate high up in the betting for Epsom's blue riband.

Hurricane Lane (Ire) is now unbeaten in three starts for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby having prevailed in a driving finish for the G2 Dante S., with former Derby favourite High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) two lengths behind him in third. 

“I was shocked, I must say,” said Cooper in the aftermath of the race. “My husband was very emotional. He watched it at home, and this foal was born when he was in intensive care in hospital and he was quite emotional watching him win like that.”

She continued, “I remember showing the photo of the foal to my daughter and she took one look and said 'you sell him over my dead body', but I am afraid we have to sell to survive.”

From a crop of six colts that year, four ended up being sold by Cooper through John Troy. Mohaafeth and Hurricane Lane went through the ring just six lots apart at Tattersalls October Book 1, the former selling for 350,000gns after the late Sheikh Hamdan had given his approval to the colt so admired by his now-trainer William Haggas. The imposing Hurricane Lane came next, and was bought for 200,000gns by Godolphin.

“One of the six had chipped a bone so he wasn't able to go to the sale,” Cooper recalled. “I had four in October Book 1 and one in October 2. Sultanina's Dubawi colt was going through first and he didn't make his reserve so I dropped the reserve for the others to make sure they all sold—I have nomination fees and boarding charges to pay. Hurricane Lane was bought on his reserve. Nobody wants these big horses but Hurricane Lane still managed to win as a 2-year-old, as big as he is.”

From the same family as Mohaafeth, the colt out of Cooper's G1 Nassau S. winner Sultanina (GB) (New Approach {GB}) came home and, now named Diavolo (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), he was set to appear in his breeder's colours at Newbury on Friday until a foot abscess delayed his debut. Cooper will, however, be represented by another member of the crop at York on Friday in the form of her homebred filly Love Is You (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), the Roger Charlton-trained daughter of Fallen For You who lines up in the Listed Oaks Farm Stables Fillies' S. off the back of a third in the G3 Nell Gwyn S. on Apr. 14.

Both Mohaafeth and Diavolo are descendants of Cooper's much-loved dual listed winner Foodbroker Fancy (Ire) (Halling). Mohaafeth's dam French Dressing (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) ran only twice but was unbeaten and won the listed Lyric Fillies' S. before retiring to stud.

Following the yearlings sales of 2019, Cooper cut her broodmare numbers significantly with a partial dispersal at the December Sale. She said, “If I'd known that I would sell all 14 mares then maybe I would have kept one or two of the yearlings back but decisions have to be made.”

Hurricane Lane's dam, the French listed winner Gale Force (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Seal Of Approval (GB) (Authorized {Ire}), was among those in Normandie Stud's reduction, and she was bought by Lord and Lady Lloyd-Webber of Watership Down Stud for 300,000gns.

“I decided I was going to keep only eight mares and they were going to be from my three families—the Fallen Star (GB) family, the Dolores (GB) family and the Foodbroker Fancy—and they had to be group or listed class,” explained Cooper, who sold her Sussex-based Normandie Stud in December 2017 and now boards her mares at Coolmore and Newsells Park Stud. 

“I set down those criteria and it was very difficult but I had to make that decision in order to be able to continue. We had to be very grown up about it.”

She has, however, taken a different tack with her current crop of 2-year-olds, and one which is no doubt sensible given the current clamour for progressive middle-distance horses in training. 

She said, “I have 18 2-year-olds because I decided to keep the foals from the mares that I sold. I felt that I wasn't really getting the prices that I thought these horses were worth at the sales so I made the decision pre-pandemic to run them, and if they are good I will sell them in training.”

The group includes Hurricane Lane's half-brother by Sea The Stars (Ire), named Sweet William (Ire), who is in training with Roger Charlton.

“He's not a precocious type but he's not as big as Hurricane Lane,” said the breeder. “He's probably one of the best-looking horses I've ever bred, but then Sea The Stars is so good looking himself, I love him to bits. I don't know if lightning can strike twice—we shall see.”

French Dressing, meanwhile, has recently produced a full-brother to Mohaafeth and her 2-year-old, French Toast (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), is another with Charlton at Beckhampton.

“She's had five foals on the trot so she is having a well-earned rest,” said Cooper, a former French teacher, who added with a laugh. “Her Kingman (GB) yearling filly is named French Mistress after me.”

She continued, “Hurricane Lane will definitely stay, I wouldn't even worry about him getting the Derby trip, but I think Mohaafeth is more of a mile-and-a-quarter horse on breeding, but that doesn't mean he won't get the mile and a half, and he has the speed. I'd love Mohaafeth to win. He was the one I really wanted to keep, but there's no reason he would have done as well if I had kept him. He's with the right trainer and owner and I am blessed that they went to William and Charlie Appleby.

“Foodbroker Fancy was just the most wonderful mare. She died in terrible circumstances and she will forever be in my heart, so Mohaafeth is extra special to me. But let's hope Gale Force can go on and breed more good horses for the Lloyd-Webbers. They paid good money for her and I'd love to see her continue to do well.”

Cooper now keeps the majority of her mares in Ireland, with those set to visit British stallions based at Newsells Park Stud.

Following a period of adjustment after the sale of her own farm, at which Sultanina and fellow Group 1 winners Fallen For You (GB) and Duncan (GB) were bred, Cooper is full of praise for the help she has received from those charged with looking after her stock in some of the most famous paddocks in Ireland.

“I have to really say a big thank you to James Mockridge and the team,” she noted. “This is the first crop that was born and bred at Coolmore. It's really nothing to do with me, and I'm not saying that we were a bunch of amateurs at Normandie, but at Coolmore, it's not only the land, but their attention to detail is extraordinary. I wasn't finished when I sold the place but it was just a question of starting again and finding my feet and keeping the numbers tight.”

Cooper added, “I call myself a small breeder and people might laugh, but I am a small breeder in a sense, and it shows that it can be done. I'll just be so proud if they both make it to Epsom. If they can get there in one piece it will be the biggest thrill. The Derby is still the best race, whatever anyone says, and I'd never have imagined being in this situation.”

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