Tom Marquand | Horse Racing Free Tips

Derby Double Not Off The Table For Santiago

Trainer Aidan O’Brien has revealed that the door is still open for Saturday’s G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) to attempt to make it two Derbies in seven days in the Epsom version on July 4. Santiago and his five stablemates that contested the Curragh Classic could be entered for the G1 Investec Derby on Monday, O’Brien told Racing TV’s Luck On Sunday programme.

“It’s very possible [those that ran in Irish Derby could run at Epsom],” O’Brien said. “If any of them come out of the race exceptionally well and [the owners] want to make an entry, that’s what will happen. They didn’t do much [on Sunday], they’ll do a canter [on Monday] and a decision will be made some time during the morning. It was unconventional to run them so soon after Ascot, but they came out of the race well and that is why they ran. Nothing is definitely ruled out.”

As for those targeting Epsom who did not run at The Curragh, O’Brien said, “The lads are thinking about Mythical (Fr) (Camelot {GB}), who was a very nice 2-year-old last season. Then there’s a horse called Amhran Na Bhfiann (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who finished fourth in the maiden the second, third and fourth from the Irish Derby ran in.

“We’ve Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who won at Ascot–he seems to have come out of it well. Then we’ve Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who seems to have come out of Ascot well. We wanted two races before the Derby for him which is why he went there, we were trying to squeeze two races into one–we’ve been very happy with him since.

“The lads are talking about running Vatican City (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was second in the Irish Guineas so that would be an interesting one and the third from the Guineas, Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), is possible as well, but he could go to France. Those are the horses in the picture at the moment that didn’t run yesterday.”

O’Brien also identified four likely candidates for the G1 Investec Oaks on the same card, headed by his English and Irish Guineas winners.

“Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is working towards the Oaks and Peaceful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is as well,” the trainer said. “The two fillies who were second and third in the Ribblesdale [Ennistymon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Passion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})] are on that programme at the moment.”

There was some Derby jockey news on Sunday as well, with Andrea Atzeni confirmed for Golden Gates H. winner Highland Chief (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}). Tom Marquand, who was recently taken off favourite English King (Fr) (Camelot {GB}), will have his first Derby ride as he continues his association with the Andrew Balding-trained Khalifa Sat (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}), according to Racing Post.

The post Derby Double Not Off The Table For Santiago appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

English King “Interesting” In Derby: Dettori

Frankie Dettori, who on Monday picked up the mount on favourite English King (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) in the July 4 G1 Investec Derby, told Sky Sports Racing on Tuesday that he will get acquainted with Bjorn Nielsen’s Listed Derby Trial S. winner this week.

“I’m going to go and ride him this week,” Dettori said. “I can only go on what I’ve seen, but he was impressive at Newcastle last year, and very impressive at Lingfield.

“He’s interesting. On the plus side, he went round Lingfield like it was a flat track. You would think Epsom is quite similar, so that is a big tick in the box. I’ve had some good success for Bjorn Nielsen with Stradivarius. He approached me when he realised John [Gosden] didn’t have anything for the Derby. He had a quiet word in my ear to see if I would accept the ride, and I said I was all over it. He looks a good horse from what I’ve seen, so it would be my pleasure.

Dettori replaces Tom Marquand aboard the Ed Walker-trained 3-year-old, with the 22-year-old Marquand having ridden him in his maiden-breaking win in November and at Lingfield.

“It [losing big rides] happened a lot to me when I was young,” Dettori reflected. “Tom is 22–I’m sure he’ll have plenty of other chances in his career, but I was just delighted to get the ride.”

Dettori said he thinks the G1 2000 Guineas winner Kameko (Kitten’s Joy) is his biggest threat in the blue riband.

“Classic form is always the strongest, and Kameko hit the line strong,” he said. “He’s the one who brings class to the party, and the one I fear the most.”

The post English King “Interesting” In Derby: Dettori appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Dettori Called Up for English King in the Derby

Frankie Dettori has been given the ride aboard G1 Investec Derby favourite English King (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) at Epsom on Saturday week, trainer Ed Walker has confirmed. The son of Camelot stamped himself as a leading contender for the premier Classic with a hugely impressive display in the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial earlier in the month and is now a best priced 7-2, ahead of Andrew Balding’s G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas hero Kameko (Kitten’s Joy) at 5-1. Tom Marquand was on board English King at Lingfield, but is set to be replaced at Epsom by Dettori, who steered the remarkable Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) to a third Gold Cup success at Royal Ascot last week for English King’s owner, Bjorn Nielsen.

Walker told PA, “Frankie is going to ride English King in the Derby. I feel desperately sorry for Tom, and it is absolutely no reflection of our faith and trust in his ability. Bjorn and I mulled it over and watched all the trials, and it became increasingly clear John [Gosden] wasn’t going to have a Derby runner. After Tom won on the horse at Lingfield he asked if he’d keep the ride in the Derby, and I said to him ‘your only danger is Frankie’.

“Frankie obviously has a wealth of big-race experience and raises his game to stratospheric heights for the big races. We feel very privileged to have him on board.”

Stradivarius was one of six Royal Ascot winners for the popular Italian, who will be bidding for a third win in the Derby following his previous triumphs aboard Authorized (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) in 2007 and Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in 2015.

Walker added, “The Derby is the Derby, and Frankie is Frankie. It’s very tough on Tom–but he has never ridden in a Classic around Epsom before, and I hope he’ll have other big days with us in the future, very possibly on this horse.

“It will be my first runner in the Derby–fingers crossed we get there–and having Frankie Dettori on board will just give me a bit of confidence as well, and obviously Frankie and Bjorn have the connection through Stradivarius. It wasn’t an easy decision. I’m sure it won’t be too long before Tom is jocking people off left, right and centre.”

English King enjoyed a Monday morning workout in Lambourn and is reported to be in fine fettle by his trainer.

“He’s in cracking form–really well in himself. I just hope we can keep him in the same form for the next 12 days,” said Walker. “We haven’t organised when it will happen yet, but Frankie will come and sit on him between now and the Derby.”

The post Dettori Called Up for English King in the Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post