CARLTON HOUSE (Street Cry [Ire]) took a step closer to being in the line-up for
Saturday’s 232nd edition of the Derby (Eng-G1) after coming through a crucial
canter in Newmarket Thursday morning. The Queen’s Dante S. (Eng-G2) winner, the
antepost favorite for the Blue Riband, was the subject of an injury scare
Tuesday.
“We are pleased to report that Carlton House did a good
exercise this morning and he is very much still on target for Saturday’s Investec
Derby,” The Queen’s Racing Manager John Warren said in a statement to PA Sport
Thursday evening.
Carlton House tops a field of 13 set for the Derby.
With Godolphin and Ballydoyle making the expected withdrawals of Casamento (Shamardal), Genius Beast (Kingmambo) and Roderic O’Connor (Galileo
[Ire])
Thursday, the only surprise was the scratching of Lady Rothschild’s Chester
Vase (Eng-G3) runner-up Nathaniel (Galileo [Ire]) on account of the likely fast
ground.
The Queen’s colt received the widest draw of 13, but that should not be a
major impediment as two of the last five winners emerged from double-figure
stalls.
Those drawn low Thursday
included the Ballydoyle pair of SEVILLE (Galileo [Ire]) and RECITAL
(Montjeu [Ire]), who will break from stalls 2 and 4 respectively. MEMPHIS
TENNESSEE (Hurricane Run [Ire]), who was 1 1/2 lengths behind Recital when
runner-up in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial (Ire-G2) at Leopardstown May 8, is
in 6 while the May 5 Chester Vase (Eng-G3) winner TREASURE BEACH (Galileo [Ire]) will exit from the 12
hole.
Kieren Fallon has taken the mount on Recital, but could be forced onto the
sidelines after an injunction has been requested by the owner of NATIVE KHAN
(Azamour [Ire]), the colt he was reportedly set to ride.
The triple Derby-winning jockey is alleged by Ibrahim Araci to have
previously promised to partner his colt in the Blue Riband. Fallon has denied
breach of contract, claiming that there has been an “innocent misunderstanding,”
but lawyers for Araci put forward the case in High Court that he had been “badly let down” by
the jockey. Justice MacDuff will give his ruling Friday
morning.
Meanwhile, O’Brien heaped praise on last year’s Criterium de Saint-Cloud
(Fr-G1) hero Recital.
“The Derby is unbelievably special — it is the ultimate test of a
Thoroughbred,” O’Brien said Thursday. “He is a brilliant horse with a very
instant turn of foot and we were happy with him last time.
“Kieren hadn’t ridden him before and he surprised him by how well he traveled.
When he asked him to go, he went there and he was by himself. Off a strong pace,
with a big headwind, he started looking around and Kieren was very good on him.
“We’ve been happy with him since, and he has that kick of brilliance that suggests
he will definitely get a mile and a quarter, but we’re taking the rest on trust.
He has plenty of class and horses who travel like he does usually don’t have any
problems with the track.”
Last year’s Racing Post Trophy (Eng-G1) runner-up Seville bids to emulate last year’s
winner Workforce (GB) (King’s Best) by improving off a well-beaten second in
York’s Dante May 12.
“We were very
happy with Seville at York, as he was only just ready to start and it was a
slowly-run race,” O’Brien said. “That didn’t suit any horse in the race and he ran a real nice
race and has been well since. We felt going there that he would improve as most
of ours have this year and we are hoping that trend continues.
“We haven’t worked
him at home to find out if he has, so we’re taking it on trust. Seville was
always a very solid horse who you’d have thought would have no problem getting a
mile and a half.”
Speaking of the outsiders, O’Brien added, “Hopefully, Memphis
Tennessee has come on and should have a good chance of getting a mile and a
half. He ran a lovely race first time and is a straightforward horse, so we’re
hoping he runs well. Treasure Beach is a solid horse as well.”
Stall 10 has a
fabled history here, with the recent winners Sir Percy and Galileo (Ire)
breaking from that post position to add to a list which includes Shahrastani,
Reference Point, Nashwan, Quest for Fame (GB) and Generous.
This time, it will be Godolphin’s OCEAN WAR (Dalakhani {Ire}) who has been
handed that “lucky” draw.
Unbeaten in two starts this year, the gray has
supplanted his stable companion Casamento as the operation’s
number one here and that may be significant, as that Racing Post Trophy winner
would have been the top-rated colt had he lined up. His win in the April 30
listed Newmarket S. over 10 furlongs does not inspire maximum confidence, but in
an open year he must be respected.
“Ocean War is in very good form at the
moment,” trainer Mahmood al Zarooni commented. “He is improving all of the time
and we don’t know how good he could be.”
The going remained officially “good”
Thursday, with watering continuing.
“There is plenty of moisture in the ground,” said Andrew Cooper,
director of racing and clerk of the course, “and, though
the course will dry in the good weather, we hope to start Saturday on going that
is no worse than good, good-to-firm in places.
“The course is in great shape and
it walks quite even and consistent. The grass cover is good and the going is
slightly better than for the start of the meeting last year.”