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Beaten Epsom Derby Favorite Bolshoi Ballet, Santa Barbara Arrive For Belmont Turf Engagements

The Aidan O'Brien-trained pair of Bolshoi Ballet and Santa Barbara arrived in New York by way of Ballydoyle Training Center in Ireland on Sunday evening for their respective starts in the first leg of NYRA's Turf Triple series on Saturday at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Bolshoi Ballet targets the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational, while stablemate Santa Barbara will be entered in the Grade 1, $700,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational. Both races are contested at 10 furlongs on the inner turf.

“They're perfect. They've arrived in great shape,” said T.J. Comerford, travelling assistant for O'Brien.

Bolshoi Ballet, who finished seventh as the favorite last out in the Group 1 Epsom Derby, will look to give O'Brien a second triumph in the Belmont Derby after shipping Deauville stateside for a successful engagement in 2016.

The bay son of influential international sire Galileo won both his efforts in 2021 prior to the Epsom Derby.

“He's in good order and looks well. We're very happy with him,” Comerford said.

Owned by Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Westerberg, Bolshoi Ballet is out of the Anabaa mare Alta Anna.

Santa Barbara arrives at the Belmont Oaks off a runner-up effort to Thundering Nights in the Group 1 Pretty Polly on June 27 at The Curragh. Since a first out maiden victory over the County Kildare green in September, the daughter of 2012 Epsom Derby winner Camelot has made her three following efforts against Group 1 company.

Out of the Danehill mare Senta's Dream, Santa Barbara is a half-sister to Breeders' Cup winners Iridessa [2019 Filly and Mare Turf] and Order of Australia [2020 Mile].

“She's a filly that we think a lot of,” Comerford said. “She ran in some tough races this year after winning her maiden race. She's taken everything in stride.”

Turf Triple contenders Tokyo Gold, Cirona and Nazuna arrived at Belmont on Sunday morning.

Trained by Shinya Kobayashi, Tokyo Gold will start in the Belmont Derby, while the Christophe Ferland-trained Cirona and Roger Varian-conditioned Nazuna will point to the Belmont Oaks.

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Mystery Angel Supplemented For Oaks

George Boughey, one of the rising stars of the Newmarket training ranks, is set to be represented by a first Classic runner after listed Pretty Polly S. winner Mystery Angel (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) was supplemented for Friday's G1 Cazoo Oaks at a cost of £22,500.

Owned by the Nick Bradley Racing syndicate, which has already had a Classic place-getter this season in Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}), Mystery Angel was last seen running fourth to Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. at York. The first four home in that contest all stand their ground at Epsom.

Snowfall is currently second favourite for the Oaks behind her stable-mate Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who has raced just twice in her life and was beaten just over a length when fourth in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. The duo could be joined by up to three stable-mates from Ballydoyle, with the list of potential runners for the fillies' Classic now stretching to 15 following the latest confirmation stage.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Musidora runner-up Noon Star (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) could renew her rivalry with Snowfall, along with third-placed Teona (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) from the Roger Varian stable. Her fellow Newmarket resident, the 1000 Guineas runner-up Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), had a spin round Epsom on Monday and is now an intended runner for Jane Chapple-Hyam.

Archie Watson and Hollie Doyle team up for their first Oaks contender with the Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Sherbet Lemon (Lemon Drop Kid), who could again face the second and third home, Save A Forest (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Ocean Road (Ire) (Australia {GB}), for Varian and Hugo Palmer respectively.

Varian could have as many as three runners as Cheshire Oaks runner-up Zeyaadah (GB) (Tamayuz {GB}) remains in contention, as does the filly who beat her, the Mark Johnston-trained Dubai Fountain (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).

Eleven horses remain in the potential line-up for the second Group 1 contest on Friday's Epsom card, the Coral Coronation Cup. The list is headed by the progressive Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), the impressive winner of two Group 3 contests this season for William Haggas and Shadwell.

He could take on last year's Derby and Oaks winners Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), while Arc runner-up In Swoop (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}) is a potential runner from France for Francis Graffard.

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O’Brien Issues Update On Epsom Runners

Twenty years ago, Aidan O'Brien won the Derby for the first of his record eight times with Galileo (Ire), whose son Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) is currently ante-post favourite for the Cazooo Derby on June 5. The Ballydoyle trainer also has the favourite for the Cazoo Oaks, Santa Barbara (Ire), who is by another of his Derby winners, Camelot (GB).

Issuing an update on the G3 Ballysax S. winner Bolshoi Ballet, O'Brien said, “I am very happy with him, everything has gone well so far. He is a very well-balanced horse. He seems to get the mile and quarter very well and he is very relaxed, very off-handed, and tactically he is very easy to place in a race.

“We always thought middle distances wouldn't be a problem to him. Obviously you are never sure until you run over the mile and a half, but we always thought he would stay.”

The trainer also has the Galileo colt High Definition (Ire) among his Derby team of five and he said of the recent G2 Dante S. third, “Obviously, he had a very interrupted preparation–a week before the Dante he wouldn't have been able to run. He just came right a couple of days before. We knew he had to run if he was going to the Derby and we couldn't have been happier.

“Obviously, we were going to ride him patiently, kindly and gently, and that is what Ryan did. We were very happy with his run at York. 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.”

The quintet is completed by the Camelot colts Sir Lamorak (Ire) and Sir Lucan (Ire), as well as G1 Criterium International winner Van Gogh (American Pharoah).

“It's what the foundation of the thoroughbred is built on really,” added O'Brien of the Derby. “It is the ultimate test and they are tested in every way–speed, stamina, courage and balance.”

Along with Santa Barbara, the trainer's Oaks entries include the impressive G3 Musidora S. winner Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Divinely (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and La Joconde (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

He said of the favourite, who was fourth in the 1000 Guineas on her seasonal debut, “It was a big risk going to the 1000 Guineas on only her second run, but she ran very well. This was always pencilled in to be her next run. She came out of the 1000 Guineas well and everything has gone well with her since. She hasn't been over that far before, but she is a Camelot filly and we are really looking forward to seeing her run. She was always very special in her work.”

Snowfall is also pleasing O'Brien, who said, “We always thought the world of Snowfall last year, but we could never get her to produce what she was doing at home. Maybe a little bit of time over the winter, maybe she matured from two to three and a little bit extra distance has helped her. Physically she has done well since and mentally she is lovely, so it is very possible that she could really take off.”

O'Brien could also have up to six runners in the Coronation Cup on Friday, June 4, including last year's Derby and Oaks winners Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The list is completed by Japan (GB) and his full-brother Mogul (GB), both sons of Galileo, as is fellow entrant Armory (Ire). Recent G2 Mooresbridge S. winner Broome (Ire), by Derby winner Australia (GB) is also engaged.

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High Definition Possible For Dante

G1 Cazoo Derby favourite High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) could be re-routed to next Thursday's G2 Dante S. at York after unsatisfactory blood work ruled him out of Saturday's Listed Derby Trial S. at Lingfield.

“His blood count didn't come back proper–his SAA [Serum Amyloid A] was very high and that is usually an indication of inflammation or infection somewhere, but we couldn't find either anywhere in his body,” O'Brien told Sky Sports Racing. “He scoped perfect this morning. Maybe it was just one of those things, but we'll do his bloods every day going forward and see. He's in the Dante and we'll see what happens over the next few days.”

O'Brien admitted it would be difficult to send High Definition to Epsom without a prep race.

“For us, we need to be getting out, because with the travelling you'd like a bit of time between their first and their second run,” he said. “The Dante normally is a little bit close to the Derby, but there's a little bit longer this year and that is probably what we'll look at. He'll have to improve every day and go forwards. If they [bloods] all came back normal and it had settled down then it's very possible. Realistically you couldn't go to the Derby without a run.”

O'Brien likewise confirmed that Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), fourth as the favourite in last weekend's G1 1000 Guineas, is on course for the G1 Cazoo Oaks.

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