The 234th running of the Group 1, £1,379,500 Derby at Epsom, the most famous
classic of all and Britain’s richest race of the year, has 15 contenders going
forward after Monday’s £75,000 supplementary entry and five-day confirmation
stages.
Chopin, as expected, was supplemented this morning, and the Andreas
Wohler-trained three-year-old colt will become the first German runner if lining
up on Saturday. He is a 9-1 chance with Coral, official betting partner of the
Derby Festival.
Unbeaten Dawn Approach, trained by Jim Bolger (successful in the Derby with
the colt’s sire New Approach in 2008) in Ireland and running in the Godolphin
colors, is the strong favorite at 10-11 with Coral for the 2013 Derby, but there
are plenty of likely challengers.
The most interesting is Magician (9-2), the impressive winner of the Irish
Two Thousand Guineas over a mile last Saturday at the Curragh. Two winners of
that Irish classic, founded in 1921, have gone on to win the Derby — Grundy in
1975 and Santa Claus in 1964.
The most recent attempt to capture both classics came in 2005 when Dubawi,
owned by Godolphin and trained by Saeed bin Suroor, finished third to Motivator
at Epsom Downs.
Aidan O’Brien, who trains Magician, tried for the double with Saffron Walden
in 1999 but the three-year-old colt could only finish seventh to Oath in the
Derby.
All the above happened when there was at least a 14-day gap between the two
Classics, whereas this year there is only seven days.
As well as Magician, O’Brien has five more colts in the Investec Derby, which
he has won three times — with Camelot (2012), High Chaparral (2002) and Galileo
(2001).
They are Battle of Marengo (9-2), winner of his last five races; Festive
Cheer (33-1); Flying the Flag (40-1); Mars (12-1), sixth to Dawn Approach in
Newmarket’s Two Thousand Guineas; and the unbeaten Ruler of the World (9-1).
Andre Fabre sent out Pour Moi to win the Derby two years ago and France’s
24-time champion trainer is hoping Ocovango (7-1), successful on all three of
his starts, can emulate that victory.
Dante winner Libertarian (16-1), who would be the first Derby winner trained
in the North of England since Dante in 1945 if successful, is the main
British-trained hope. He is trained by Elaine Burke at Middleham in Yorkshire.
Bolger has also left Trading Leather (40-1) — third to Magician on Saturday
— in the Derby, but as an insurance policy for the odds-on favorite.
“Trading Leather has been left in the Derby as a precaution. If anything were
to happen to Dawn Approach, I would run Trading Leather,” Bolger said.
“Dawn Approach is continuing to please me, and I am looking forward to
running him in the Derby at Epsom Downs on Saturday.
“I thought Magician’s performance on Saturday was very smart.”
The two other potential Irish challengers are the David Wachman-trained Galileo
Rock (40-1) and the Andy Oliver-trained First Cornerstone (80-1).
Mirsaale (80-1) is the only course winner among the Derby hopefuls, with the
James Tate-trained colt winning the Derby Trial over 10 furlongs on April 24.
Ocean Applause (500-1) is the outsider of the likely Derby field after three
unplaced efforts this year for trainer John Ryan.
“Dawn Approach remains odds-on favorite for the Derby,” Coral’s David Stevens
commented, “but his closest challenger in the betting could turn out to be a
fellow Two Thousand Guineas winner in Magician, and if the latter makes a quick
reappearance on Saturday, Joseph O’Brien’s decision on who he rides could well
determine whether Magician or Battle of Marengo starts clear second favorite to
the Godolphin colt.”
The Coronation Cup is the other Group 1 race staged at Epsom Downs on
Saturday, and St Nicholas Abbey, trained by O’Brien, is going for an
unprecedented third success in the £350,000 race. Currently trading at 1-2 with
Coral, he could have up to six opponents over the Derby distance of about 1 1/2
miles, led by Dunaden (7-2), Dandino (8-1) and Joshua Tree (10-1).
The going at Epsom Downs Racecourse changed Monday morning to good, good to
firm in places.
“The going has been given today as good, good to firm in places as a result
of a third consecutive dry and breezy day in a row,” said Andrew Cooper, head of
racing and clerk of the course at Epsom Downs.
“There is rain forecast for tomorrow (Tuesday) but the exact amount we will
see is hard to predict — most forecasts suggest at least six millimeters. It
would not take much rain to bring the going description back to good.
“Unsettled weather is forecast for Wednesday, with drier conditions
prevailing for the Derby Festival on Friday and Saturday.
“The 2013 Derby is an intriguing classic, with a very strong Irish challenge,
while the French and German runners are fascinating and the home challenge is
limited to three.”
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