Ante-post favourite English King headlines a
final field of 16 declared for the Investec Derby at Epsom on Saturday,
but will have to overcome stall one.
final field of 16 declared for the Investec Derby at Epsom on Saturday,
but will have to overcome stall one.
Ed
Walker’s charge booked his place in the Classic line-up with an
impressive victory in the Lingfield Derby Trial and will be the mount of
Frankie Dettori, as the ever-popular Italian chases a third Derby
success, after Authorized (2007) and Golden Horn (2015).
Walker’s charge booked his place in the Classic line-up with an
impressive victory in the Lingfield Derby Trial and will be the mount of
Frankie Dettori, as the ever-popular Italian chases a third Derby
success, after Authorized (2007) and Golden Horn (2015).
The pair will have to negotiate a safe trip from the lowest stall which hasn’t produced the Derby winner in Oath in 1999.
The
Andrew Balding-trained Kameko already has one Classic win on his CV
after landing the 2000 Guineas last month and he will try to emulate
Camelot, who supplemented his Newmarket win with Derby glory back in
2012.
Andrew Balding-trained Kameko already has one Classic win on his CV
after landing the 2000 Guineas last month and he will try to emulate
Camelot, who supplemented his Newmarket win with Derby glory back in
2012.
Balding said ahead of the QIPCO British Champions Series
event: “Both horses (also runs Khalifa Sat) did their last bits of work
on Wednesday morning and I’m very happy with both of them.
event: “Both horses (also runs Khalifa Sat) did their last bits of work
on Wednesday morning and I’m very happy with both of them.
“As the race draws closer I see more dangers every day but, fingers crossed, everything has gone well in the build-up.”
Balding
says he is not surprised that bookmakers make English King favourite
over his stable star, admitting: “He’s proven over the distance and
looked very impressive at Lingfield.
says he is not surprised that bookmakers make English King favourite
over his stable star, admitting: “He’s proven over the distance and
looked very impressive at Lingfield.
“He’s certainly a potential Group 1 horse.
“There
is obviously the stamina doubt over Kameko, but he’s very relaxed and
that’s why we are inclined to give it a go. There’s a genetic question
mark and it will be answered on Saturday.
is obviously the stamina doubt over Kameko, but he’s very relaxed and
that’s why we are inclined to give it a go. There’s a genetic question
mark and it will be answered on Saturday.
“If he was a keen horse
and difficult to settle, we would not be attempting this. It’s a
combination of mentality and genetic make-up as to how far horses can
stay. Any horse that wins the Vertem Futurity, as he did, is considered a
potential Derby horse. He stayed the mile well as a two-year-old and
also hit the line strong in the Guineas.”
and difficult to settle, we would not be attempting this. It’s a
combination of mentality and genetic make-up as to how far horses can
stay. Any horse that wins the Vertem Futurity, as he did, is considered a
potential Derby horse. He stayed the mile well as a two-year-old and
also hit the line strong in the Guineas.”
Aidan O’Brien fields a
six-strong challenge as he bids for a record eighth Derby success, with
only Armory removed from his seven initial entries.
six-strong challenge as he bids for a record eighth Derby success, with
only Armory removed from his seven initial entries.
Royal Ascot
winner Russian Emperor is the shortest O’Brien contender in the betting,
but King Edward VII Stakes fourth Mogul features prominently along with
Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Vatican City. Mythical, Serpentine and
Amhran Na Bhfiann also represent Ballydoyle.
winner Russian Emperor is the shortest O’Brien contender in the betting,
but King Edward VII Stakes fourth Mogul features prominently along with
Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Vatican City. Mythical, Serpentine and
Amhran Na Bhfiann also represent Ballydoyle.
Ryan Moore has been
confirmed as riding Mogul, with Seamie Heffernan teaming up with Russian
Emperor and Padraig Beggy, who famously steered Wings Of Eagles to a
40/1 shock in 2017, aboard Vatican City.
confirmed as riding Mogul, with Seamie Heffernan teaming up with Russian
Emperor and Padraig Beggy, who famously steered Wings Of Eagles to a
40/1 shock in 2017, aboard Vatican City.
William Buick partners Amhran Na Bhfiann, with James Doyle on Mythical and Emmet McNamara taking the mount on Serpentine.
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