Betfred Named as Derby Sponsor

Betfred has been announced as the new sponsor of the Derby, described by the company's founder Fred Done as “greatest Flat race in the world”. In a deal initially lasting three years, the bookmaking firm will also sponsor the Oaks. This year's meeting takes place on June 2 and 3.

The largest independent bookmaker in Britain, with 1,400 high street shops,  Betfred has also expanded into South Africa and currently operates across 10 American states. The company was racing's biggest sponsor between 2011 and 2018, its backing including the ßCheltenham Gold Cup, G1 Sprint Cup at Haydock, Newmarket's Cambridgeshire and Cesarewitch, and York's prestigious Ebor Handicap. Betfred is also the official betting partner of Ascot racecourse and Royal Ascot.

“I am immensely proud to sponsor the Derby and the Oaks. For me, the Derby remains the greatest Flat race in the world,” Done said. 

“When you look at some of the horses and characters that have won this great race, Sea-Bird, Mill Reef, Nijinsky, Sir Gordon Richards, Lester Piggott, and Frankie Dettori, it has an amazing history and I am delighted to become a part of it for at least the next three years.”

The Jockey Club's chief executive Nevin Truesdale added, “We're delighted that Betfred have agreed to be the sponsor of the Derby and the Oaks.

“Betfred's support of British racing over many years has been superb and we're proud to be working with Fred Done and his team on its next chapter, to promote these two iconic races on the first weekend in June.”

 

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‘I’ll Be Shouting For Her’: Salsabil’s Jockey Willie Carson Backing Tuesday For Irish Derby

As Hollie Doyle so adeptly showed on Sunday, women can easily taken on men in racing, but it is a rare thing for a filly to tackle the colts in a Classic. There have however, been some notable successes, and when Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) lines up for Saturday's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby she will be following in the hoofprints of her fellow Oaks winners, Salsabil (Ire) and Balanchine, who bounced from victory at Epsom to beating the boys on the Curragh.

Willie Carson was aboard the John Dunlop-trained Salsabil in 1990 when she got the better of that year's Derby winner Quest For Fame, among others, in cruising to success in the Irish Derby for her third Classic victory of the season. After winning the 1,000 Guineas then the Oaks, she became the first filly since Gallinaria (Ire) in 1900 to land the Irish Derby, and the first 1,000 Guineas and Oaks winner to have done so.

“The decision to run was Sheikh Hamdan's,” says Carson, casting his mind back more than three decades to two brilliant seasons for Salsabil. Bought by the sheikh from her breeder Pat O'Kelly, the daughter of Sadler's Wells was out of Kilcarn Stud's great matriarch Flame Of Tara (GB) (Artaius), who the year after she foaled Salsabil produced Marju (Ire) (Last Tycoon {Ire}), winner of the St James's Palace S. and runner-up to Generous (Ire) in the Derby. Among the mare's 11 winners were six black-type performers.

“I don't think John Dunlop would have had the inclination to run her in the Irish Derby. I remember that he wanted to go for the King George but Sheikh Hamdan said Irish Derby.”

Carson, who holds the unique distinction of having won the 200th Derby in England as a jockey on Troy (GB) and the 200th Derby in Ireland as a breeder with Jack Hobbs (GB), continues, “It was the easiest Classic winner I ever rode. I don't think I hit her with a stick, it was just hands and heels and she won so easily.

“Salsabil was a marvellous filly, she was in the top three fillies I rode. Sadly, Sheikh Hamdan didn't get anything as good out of her as she was herself. She was by the great Sadler's Wells from a really good family. Pat O'Kelly was breeding lots of good horses at that time.”

Certainly, Salsabil had everything in her favour on paper going into the Irish Derby, and she was also able to draw upon the excellent form of the man on her back. 

“I remember I rode 22 winners that week,” he says. “I was just on fire that week and I had six winners the day before on Northumberland Plate day. It was the best period of my riding career.”

Asked for his opinion of Tuesday being supplemented for the Irish Derby, he adds, “I suppose I was surprised but now they've done it I can see why they've done it. I wasn't surprised when Salsabil was entered; I was only the jockey and I did what I was told.”

Carson, whose Classic-winning exploits extend to having bred and ridden Minster Son (Ire) to glory in the St Leger of 1988, has extra reason to be interested in the career of Tuesday. At home in the paddocks of his Minster Stud is a recently acquired mare named Patronising (GB), who is a half-sister to Tuesday's dam Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and shares her sire Galileo.

He says of Tuesday, “When she ran third in the Guineas she looked an out-and-out Oaks winner. Third, running on, in the Guineas is a great thing to be doing. Obviously Emily Upjohn (GB) looked unlucky in the Oaks and she might be slightly better than Tuesday, but Tuesday also didn't have the best of starts in the Oaks.

“I'll be shouting for her. The form says she really only has Westover (GB) to beat.”

Watch Salsabil and Willie Carson win the 1990 Irish Derby

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O’Brien Could Turn to Tuesday in Bid to Win 15th Irish Derby

It hasn't been done in over 25 years, but Cazoo Oaks heroine Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) could bid to become the first filly since Balanchine (Storm Bird {Can}) in 1994 to win the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on Saturday, her trainer Aidan O'Brien has revealed.

Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who many believed was the ace in O'Brien's three-year-old pack, was sidelined shortly after finishing third in the 2000 Guineas and, after drawing a blank in the Derby, the master of Ballydoyle admitted that he may yet turn to the brilliant Oaks winner Tuesday in his bid to win the Irish Derby for a whopping 15th time.

A decision will be made for definite on Tuesday, according to O'Brien, who said, “It's possible we could supplement Tuesday and we'll decide in the morning.”

Last week's G2 King Edward VII S. winner Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) performed best of the O'Brien-trained colts in the Derby but never landed a blow on the winner Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) back in fifth. 

Stablemate Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), sent off 7-2 and ridden by Ryan Moore at Epsom, could only manage sixth, yet the market suggests he is the number one Irish Derby hope for Ballydoyle at odds of 9-2. 

The Ralph Beckett-trained Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), an unlucky third in the Derby, is a 5-4 favourite to gain compensation in Saturday's Curragh showpiece.

O'Brien enjoyed another successful Royal Ascot last week, once again being crowned leading trainer at the meeting over the five days, which saw him land his 900th Group or Graded race. He also moved within one of Sir Michael Stoute as the leading trainer at the fixture with his 81st winner.

Tuesday's Oaks form also took a boost on Sunday when Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), third at Epsom, stormed to French Oaks glory at Chantilly.

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Deal Done: Watership Down Stud Buy into Oaks Runner-up Emily Upjohn

Watership Down Stud has swopped to secure a 50% interest in Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), runner-up in the Cazoo Oaks at Epsom when last seen. 

Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Emily Upjohn was given a Timeform rating of 119p following her narrow defeat in the Oaks 10 days ago, where she overcame a slow start to go down fighting behind Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo).

Emily Upjohn has a number of intriguing entries, including the Irish Oaks and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. 

Wherever she lines out next, the talented 3-year-old will run under Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber's name, alongside Jon and Cyril Shack's Tactful Finance and Stuart Roden.

“We're absolutely thrilled to have bought into such an exciting filly at this stage of her career,” said stud owner, Lady Lloyd Webber yesterday. 

“She is an absolutely stunning filly and the plan is very much for her to stay in training next year. We are also thrilled to be part of this new partnership with Jon, Cyril and Stuart, who are fantastic enthusiasts.”

Emily Upjohn was purchased as a yearling at Tattersalls by Blandford Bloodstock's Tom Goff for 60,000gns. She hails from a superb Aga Khan family that includes dual Derby winner Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Godolphin's multiple Group 1 hero Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

Lady Lloyd Webber, who alongside her husband Andrew, retains a 50% shareholding in leading stallion prospect Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), and added, “We purchased Hurricane Lane's dam Gale Force (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) three years ago and she is very closely related to Emily Upjohn, so we are no strangers to the family. 

“When this filly eventually retires to stud, she will very much suit a mating to Too Darn Hot, which is clearly an added attraction for us.”

Jon Shack said, “As relatively small owners, we are extremely excited by this new partnership. Our family has had mares at Watership Down Stud for many years now and they do a fantastic job.”

“John and Thady and their amazing team at Clarehaven have done an incredible job with Emily so far. With a bit of luck, she can hopefully build on that [Epsom] performance and win a big prize for this new partnership before the season is over.”

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