Godolphin’s unbeaten champion Dawn Approach will try to defy the pedigree
pundits in Saturday’s Group 1 Derby at Epsom, where his aptitude for the about 1
1/2-mile distance will be put to the test.
Trained by Jim Bolger, who sent out his sire New Approach to win the 2008
Derby, Dawn Approach does not have the typical profile of a Derby winner. The
chestnut, who gets a serious injection of speed from broodmare sire Phone Trick,
started out in a five-furlong dash in March of his juvenile campaign.
Dawn Approach added such prestigious titles as the Coventry at Royal Ascot,
the National Stakes at the Curragh, and the Dewhurst at Newmarket during his
sensational 2012. Making his three-year-old debut in the May 4 Two Thousand
Guineas, he picked up right where he left off with an impressive five-length
romp in Newmarket’s mile classic. He figures to settle into a comfortable rhythm
off the pace for regular rider Kevin Manning, and then unleash his trademark
closing kick.
His 11 opponents hope that a combination of the distance, possible give in
the ground from this week’s rain, and end-to-end gallop will undo the favorite.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien fields a five-strong entry, led by the once-beaten
Battle of Marengo, who keeps Joseph O’Brien in the saddle. The winner of five
straight, the Galileo colt has plied the well-worn Ballydoyle path by taking
both the Ballysax and Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial en route to Epsom.
The upwardly-mobile Ruler of the World didn’t see a racecourse until April,
but the O’Brien colt has made up for lost time by winning both of his starts,
including a six-length rout in the Chester Vase. A Galileo half-brother to Duke
of Marmalade, he will try to buck two trends: no horse since the mighty Shergar
(1981) has turned the Chester Vase/Derby double, and it’s been 20 years since
the last unraced two-year-old went on to win at Epsom (Commander in Chief in
1993). He does have Ryan Moore in his corner.
Rounding out the Ballydoyle brigade are Mars, who was highly touted last year
but must improve off his sixth to Dawn Approach in the Guineas; Festive Cheer, a
close third in the Prix Hocquart; and Flying the Flag, well beaten in the French
and Irish Two Thousand Guineas. Either of the latter two, or both, could be
employed as pacemakers for the principals.
Two intriguing contenders invade from the Continent — the Andre
Fabre-trained Ocovango and Germany’s first-ever Derby runner, Chopin.
Ocovango is a perfect three-for-three after a fluent front-running score in the
Prix Greffulhe. The son of Monsun aims to emulate Pour Moi, who similarly won
the Greffulhe en route to Epsom glory for Fabre in 2011. His 20-year-old jockey,
Pierre-Charles Boudot, must navigate a sensible trip from his rail draw.
Chopin has won his past two for Andreas Wohler by a combined margin of 17
lengths. Following his conquest of the about 1 1/16-mile Dr. Busch-Memorial at
Krefeld, he was purchased by Qatar Racing Ltd., and his new connections
supplemented him to the Derby. The son of first-crop sire Santiago picks up
Jamie Spencer in his first major class test.
The Dante Stakes at York has traditionally been a key trial, yet
Libertarian’s visually unimpressive performance has left him a bit overlooked
here. Driven along and apparently going nowhere for much of the Dante, the
Elaine Burke trainee finally hit his best stride late. A son of New Approach out
of a stamina-laden Darshaan mare, Libertarian should improve over the added
ground in the Derby, if he can travel better at Epsom than he did at York. Burke
stands to become the first woman to train a Derby winner.
Galileo Rock was a useful third in the Sandown Classic Trial, where
Libertarian was a troubled fourth, and should be staying on late. The rank
outsiders are Mirsaale, who captured the 10-furlong conditions race billed as
the Derby Trial but has been beaten by lesser, and the 0-for-16 Ocean Applause.
Andrew Cooper, head of racing and clerk of the course at Epsom, changed the
going description Thursday morning to good to soft, soft in places from good to
soft, good in places after 5 millimeters of rain overnight. The five-furlong
straight course is good to soft.
There were 16 millimeters of rain on Tuesday and 2 1/2 millimetres on
Wednesday.
“The forecast is for isolated showers today, with conditions improving
tomorrow and Saturday when it should be dry with sunny intervals and
temperatures up to 19 Celsius,” Cooper said.
“Epsom takes rain very well as it is on chalk and, if the forecast is
correct, we should lose the soft part of the going description by Saturday.
“The soft parts of the course are at the top of the hill between the
seven-furlong marker and 4 1/2 furlongs from the winning post.”
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