A total of 19 contenders remained in the £1.25 million Derby (Eng-G1)
following Thursday’s forfeit stage, Epsom Downs announced Friday. There is one final chance to enter the
June 5 classic, with supplementary entries
having to be made by noon (British time) on May 31, at a cost of £75,000.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien, who is seeking a third success in the Derby
following the victories of Galileo (Ire) (2001) and High Chaparral (Ire) (2002), looks to
hold another formidable hand this year with six contenders remaining. These
include totesport’s current 7-4 favorite ST NICHOLAS ABBEY (Montjeu [Ire]), who
was the stunning winner of the Racing Post Trophy (Eng-G1) at Doncaster last
season before finishing sixth on his seasonal reappearance in the Two Thousand Guineas
(Eng-G1) at Newmarket on
May 1.
CAPE BLANCO (Galileo [Ire]), the 5-1 second favorite with totesport,
maintained his unbeaten record with a decisive victory in the Dante S. (Eng-G2) at York on May 13, while 7-1 third favorite
MIDAS TOUCH (Galileo [Ire]) could bid to
follow in the footsteps of Galileo and High Chaparral, having taken the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial
(Ire-G2) at Leopardstown on his latest appearance.
Other
possible starters from Ballydoyle include Criterium International (Fr-G1) victor
JAN VERMEER (Montjeu [Ire]) (14/1), AT FIRST SIGHT (Galileo [Ire]) (50-1) and
BRIGHT HORIZON (Galileo [Ire])
(66-1).
“St Nicholas Abbey is in good form,” O’Brien told At the Races on
Thursday.
“Everything has been so far, so good with him and we are obviously still looking
at Epsom with him.
“It was his first run of the year at Newmarket and he jumped out and was a
little bit fresh. Frankie Dettori’s horse gave him a bump and got him going a
bit earlier than he wanted to.
“He just maybe went into top gear a little bit early and then, when the race
really started, he never got a chance to relax. The race was over by the time he
started getting going but we were happy with him.
“In an ideal world, we would have preferred a better pace so he could settle,
relax and get into a nice rhythm. It wasn’t to be on the day, but all of the
horses have been coming on a lot from their runs and we are hoping that they
have come forward a good bit.
“He has always been a well-balanced horse and he has loads of speed, which we
have always seen. We never thought that Epsom would be a problem for him.
“Cape Blanco is in good form as well and he has been cantering since York,
while Midas Touch has been in good form since Leopardstown. They are both back
in full work and we will take it day by day and see how their work goes — we are
happy with both.”
Jan Vermeer will make his seasonal reappearance in Sunday’s Gallinule S.
(Ire-G3) at the Curragh.
Henry Cecil and Sir Michael Stoute hold the distinction of being the most
successful current trainers in the Derby, with both Newmarket handlers
having enjoyed four victories. This year Cecil is set to be represented by
BULLET TRAIN (Sadler’s Wells) (10-1), who was the impressive winner of the Derby Trial
(Eng-G3) at Lingfield Park on May 8, while Stoute’s chance of
landing a fifth success in the classic rests with WORKFORCE (King’s Best) (12-1), who looks
sure to come on for his seasonal reappearance when runner-up to Cape Blanco at
York.
Other Derby-winning trainers who could be represented in the 2010 renewal
include John Gosden, successful with Benny the Dip in 1997, who has left in Dee
S. (Eng-G3) scorer AZMEEL (Azamour [Ire]) (16-1), while Michael Bell, who saddled
Motivator to triumph in 2005, could run COORDINATED CUT (Montjeu [Ire]) (16-1), who landed the
valuable Tattersalls Timeform Three-Year-Old Trophy at Newmarket in April and was third
behind Cape Blanco at York.
The Maktoum family’s Godolphin operation has three contenders going forward
at the moment in AL ZIR (Medaglia d’Oro) (33-1), third behind St Nicholas Abbey at Doncaster last
season; AMEER (Monsun) (33-1); and CHABAL (Galileo [Ire]) (25-1), who landed the Classic Trial
(Eng-G3)
at Sandown Park on April 23 but ran disappointingly last time out behind Cape
Blanco at York.
A likely starter for Godolphin on June 5 is REWILDING (Tiger Hill) (12-1).
Previously trained in France by Andre Fabre and placed at Group 2 level in
April, the colt made an eye-catching British debut for Mahmood al Zarooni when
taking Wednesday’s listed Cocked Hat S. at Goodwood
impressively by four lengths. As he does not currently hold a Derby
entry, Rewilding will have to be supplemented at a cost of £75,000 on
May 31 at the five-day confirmation stage.
The last horse to win the Chester Vase (Eng-G3) en route to Derby success was
the mighty Shergar in 1981. A trainer hoping to change that statistic is Newmarket-based Mark Tompkins, who sent out
TED SPREAD (Beat Hollow [GB]) to score in the contest on the Roodee on May 6. Totesport, official betting partner of the 2010 Derby Festival, rate
the colt a 40-1 chance.
“Ted Spread did a bit of work on Friday morning, and
we are very happy with him,” Tompkins said. “We just want some rain between now and June 5.
“He will stay the trip and he is an improving horse. He will have learned a
lot at Chester and his temperament is bombproof — he will just stand there and
pick grass.
“If it rains and the ground comes in our favor, then I would hope that he
could be fifth or sixth.”