A total of 474 horses have been entered at the yearling stage for the 2009
Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) at Epsom Downs, it was revealed Wednesday. The 2009 Derby
will take place on June 6, and the entry marks an increase of nine on the number
of yearlings received last year for the 2008 Derby.
Authorized (Crafty Prospector) galloped to an impressive five-length victory
in the 2007 running of the classic and the Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained colt’s
full younger brother is entered for the Derby in 2009. The youngster is part of
the contingent from Coolmore, which is comprised of owners Susan Magnier (36
entries), Michael Tabor (19 entries), Derrick Smith (16 entries) and Anne Marie
O’Brien (one entry), who are responsible, either individually or in
collaboration, for 72 of the yearlings engaged.
Coolmore’s principal handler, the Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O’Brien, is
responsible for the preparation of 70 entries, significantly more than any other
trainer. Coolmore and O’Brien won the Derby in 2001 with Galileo (Ire) and again
in 2002 with High Chaparral (Ire). This year their entry includes a full brother
to the latter as well as a full brother to 2006 Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1) winner
Alexandrova (Ire). The Coolmore entry also includes a $1.7 million colt, by
Storm Cat out of Mythomania (Nureyev), from Keeneland’s September Sale.
Sheikh Mohammed is the driving force behind the Maktoum family’s Godolphin
operation. The Dubai team won the 1995 Derby with the brilliant Lammtarra and
has 32 youngsters entered for the 2009 edition, including a Cape Cross (Ire)
colt out of 1988 Oaks winner Diminuendo (Diesis [GB]) and a Pivotal yearling out
of 1995 Oaks heroine Moonshell (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells).
The Godolphin contingent also has a $2.9 million Keeneland September yearling
colt by Dynaformer out of Grade 1 winner Preach (Mr. Prospector), and a $1.9 million
Distorted Humor colt out of Stormy Bear (Storm Cat), who counts multiple
champion and Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) hero Chief Bearhart (Chief’s Crown) as well
as Grade 1 winner Explosive Red (Explodent) as half-siblings.
Trainer Henry Cecil last won the Derby in 1999 when Oath triumphed under
Kieren Fallon, and his 2009 quintet includes a son of his 2000 Oaks winner Love
Divine (Diesis [GB]) as well as an Aldebaran half-brother to his 2007 Oaks
winner Light Shift (Kingmambo) and fellow Group 1 winner Shiva (Jpn) (Hector
Protector). The Aldebaran colt is one of six horses engaged by the Niarchos
family, who also have two Storm Cat colts entered in training with Pascal Bary,
one named YANGON out of Shiva and the other the first foal of Breeders’
Cup Mile (G1) winner Six Perfections (Fr) (Celtic Swing).
Her Majesty The Queen came closest to Derby victory in her Coronation year of
1953 when Aureole chased home the Sir Gordon Richards-ridden Pinza. She has five
colts engaged including PIED PIPER, a homebred Pivotal youngster out of 2001
Oaks runner-up Flight of Fancy (Sadlers’ Wells). The latter is one of 22 entries
trained by Sir Michael Stoute, who also has a brother to Breeders’ Cup Filly &
Mare Turf (G1) winner Islington (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) and a son of 1998 Oaks
winner Shahtoush (Ire) (Alzao) by Fusaichi Pegasus.
In all, five Oaks winners have sons entered for the 2009 Derby, with Brian
Meehan training a Giant’s Causeway colt out of 1996 heroine Lady Carla (GB) (Caerleon).
Another notable entry is Irish handler John Oxx’s SEA THE STARS (Cape Cross
[Ire]), a colt out of Urban Sea, who has previously produced 2001 Derby victor
Galileo and the Oaks-placed fillies All Too Beautiful (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) and
Melikah (Ire) (Lammtarra). The only filly entered for the 2009 Derby is Sandy
Alexander’s GREENBANK DESTINY (Tobougg [Ire]) out of Sea Isle (Selkirk).
The 2009 Derby, run over 1 1/2 miles, will be worth at least £1,250,000.
There is a second entry option on April 7, 2009.