O’Brien responsible for nine of 20 remaining Derby entries
Aidan O’Brien is set to saddle a clutch of contenders in the June 6 Epsom
Derby (Eng-G1) after he was responsible for a team of nine following Thursday’s scratching deadline. Of the 20 total entries remaining in the
1 1/2-mile classic, Ballydoyle can call upon the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial
(Ire-G2) winner
FAME AND GLORY (Montjeu [Ire]), the Lingfield Derby Trial (Eng-G3) scorer AGE OF
AQUARIUS (Galileo [Ire]), the Dante S. (Eng-G2) first and second BLACK BEAR
ISLAND (Sadler’s Wells) and FREEMANTLE (Galileo [Ire]), the
Chester Vase (Eng-G3) first and second GOLDEN SWORD (High Chaparral [Ire]) and
MASTEROFTHEHORSE (Sadler’s Wells), as well as the Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) fourth
RIP VAN WINKLE (Galileo [Ire]).
“The horses ran well in their trials, and the ones that ran early improved
from their first run to their second, and the ones that didn’t win ran well in
their trials,” O’Brien opined on At the Races Thursday. “So far, so good, and we’re looking at
the Derby, so we’ll see what happens in the next few days. We will discuss it
and they are all very eligible Epsom horses at the moment. They have to go
through their work, but if they come through their trials it is hard to bypass
this race. There are other races to consider at that time, like Ascot, but we
are privileged to have these horses.”
John Oxx and Jim Bolger are likely to
offer the strongest opposition to the Ballydoyle clan with Christopher Tsui’s
Two Thousand Guineas first and third SEA THE STARS (Cape Cross [Ire]) and GAN
AMHRAS (Galileo [Ire]), respectively. Bolger also has Saturday’s Irish
Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) runner FERGUS MCIVER (Sadler’s Wells), while Godolphin
has
left in the Dante fifth KITE WOOD (Galileo [Ire]).
British representation
could be down to a handful of outsiders, but Paul Reddam’s Racing Post Trophy
(Eng-G1) winner CROWDED HOUSE (Rainbow Quest) remains in the race while trainer
Brian Meehan monitors his progress following a dirty scope after his Dante flop
last week. Among the notable withdrawals were Wednesday’s listed Cocked Hat S.
scorer Alwaary (Dynaformer), Highclere’s Chester maiden winner Harbinger (Dansili
[GB]) and Sir Robert Ogden’s Dante third Sans Frontieres (Galileo
[Ire]).
Lady Bamford’s Musidora S. (Eng-G3) winner SARISKA (Pivotal) headed a
remaining entry of 25 for the June 5 Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1) following Thursday’s scratching
deadline. Impressive when winning that May 13 York trial by 3 3/4
lengths, the Michael Bell-trained filly may face Jackie Bolger and Harry
Dobson’s One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) second CUIS GHAIRE (Galileo [Ire]), who is one of
a trio from the Bolger stable, as well as George Strawbridge’s Fillies’
Mile (Eng-G1) heroine RAINBOW VIEW (Dynaformer) from the John Gosden barn, Neil Jones’s
Blue Wind S. (Ire-G3) victress BEAUTY O’ GWAUN (Rainbow Quest) from Oxx and
Khalid Abdullah’s listed Lingfield Oaks Trial winner MIDDAY (Oasis Dream
[GB]), who is set to represent the Henry Cecil yard.
Sariska received praise
from jockey Jamie Spencer Thursday.
“She’s a lovely filly and won well at
York,” Spencer commented. “The opposition is probably a little bit lighter than
previous years and there is no stand-out. Cuis Ghaire ran a good Oaks trial in
the Guineas, and John Oxx and Henry Cecil’s fillies would worry you. Sariska is
due to do some work on Wednesday, so we’ll see how she has progressed from
York.”
Among the significant withdrawals are the Queen’s Enticement (Montjeu [Ire]), Strawbridge’s Fantasia (Sadler’s Wells) and Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Ghanaati (Giant’s Causeway).