Ten horses remain in contention for Sunday's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, including six trained by Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle. Only one other Irish trainer, Ger Lyons, has a colt still engaged in the race, while the three potential travellers from Britain are led by the James Fanshawe-trained Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), who was runner-up to City Of Troy in the Derby and has been supplemented for the Irish Classic.
“He took Epsom well,” said Fanshawe of his charge who will aim to go one better at the Curragh on Sunday and looks likely to have to reoppose Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who was over three lengths behind Ambiente Friendly when finishing third at Epsom.
“The Derby is a tough race and he lost 9kg but he has put it all back on. He worked last Wednesday and he seems really nice and bright.”
There has been much debate as to how to improve the appeal of the Irish Derby, both to connections and racegoers, but Fanshawe was adamant after Epsom that this would be the obvious next step for Bill and Tom Gredley's colt, rather than considering a drop back in trip.
He said, “Well, he travelled into the Derby really well and I don't think it was a matter of not staying that got him beaten, and he stayed really well and did a good time at Lingfield on good to firm ground. The Gredleys were keen to go for the Irish Derby as well.”
He continued, “Having got him to get into a staying way of thinking, it's nice if we can carry that through.
“He has come forward in every way all season, from where we started. He came on for stepping up from nine furlongs to a mile and a half, and switched off well in the Lingfield Derby Trial, and likewise in the Derby. Since the Derby he's been very relaxed about life, and that's a real credit to the team around him at home, and to Andrew Sansome who rides him. They've done a great job with him.”
Ambiente Friendly will be a first runner in the Irish Derby for Fanshawe, who has won Group 1 races in Ireland with the top miler Soviet Song (Ire) and Irish St Leger winner Arctic Owl (GB). He has also tasted major international success at the Breeders' Cup with Audarya (Fr) as well as in France with the likes of Speedy Boarding (GB), High Jinx (Ire) and Invermark (GB).
“It's great to have a horse like him in the stable,” he added. “It's a cliche but it's what we all do it for, and it keeps Pegasus Stables in lights. You can train lots of winners but to have a really good one like him is in the icing on the cake.”
Along with Los Angeles, O'Brien has the Galileo (Ire) colts Agenda (Ire), Chief Little Rock (Ire) and Grosvenor Square (Ire) still engaged in the Irish Derby along with a duo by Galileo's son Frankel (GB) in Euphoric (GB) and The Euphrates (GB). Keeper's Heart (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jan}) is entered for the Ger Lyons stable, while Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) and Matsuri (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), representing David Menuisier and Roger Varian respectively, could travel from England.
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