City Of Troy (Justify) and Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) head the betting for the G1 Derby after the latest entries were released on Tuesday. Of the 69 set to run in late April, just 41 remain after the latest scratching deadline for the Classic, which will be run at Epsom on Saturday, June 1.
A baker's dozen haven been entered by Aidan O'Brien for the Coolmore partners, anchored by City Of Troy, despite his puzzling ninth-place finish in last Saturday's G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas. Last season's G1 Dewhurst S. winner is joined by G1 National S. hero Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Group 2 winner Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and G3 Eyrefield S. scorer Grosvenor Square (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) among others.
Godolphin is represented by three colts from the Charlie Appleby yard, with dual Group 3 winner Arabian Crown the headliner. The rest of the trio are Hidden Law (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and G1 Futurity Trophy S. victor Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing also fields three, late supplement Dallas Star (Fr) (Cloth Of Stars {Ire}) who won the G3 Ballysax S. for Adrian Murray, Mr Hampstead (Galileo {Ire}) for Roger Varian, and Padesha (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) for Dominic Ffrench Davis.
Sheikh Mohamed Obaid, who celebrated a trio of stakes winners on the weekend has four entered, among them Matsuri (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), trained by Roger Varian. The other three–Arabic Legend (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), listed winner Caviar Heights (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Golden West (GB) (Masar {Ire}) are trained by Karl Burke, who is also enjoying a good season with his runners.
Coronation Cup Taking Shape
Held on the eve of the Derby, the G1 Coronation Cup features a who's who of older horses from all corners of Europe. Ballydoyle heavy hitters number eight of the 20 entries after the latest scratching deadline. Last year's dual Derby winner and GI Breeders' Cup Turf scorer Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) looms large here, as do classy older horses Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}), and Tower Of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), while last year's G1 St Leger victor Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) is also signed on.
Three Amo Racing luminaries have their marching orders, with King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) the main danger to the Coolmore partners' brigade. The hulking grey, second to Auguste Rodin in the Derby, took the G2 King Edward VII S., as well as the G1 Champion S. last term and will be making his 4-year-old bow.
John and Thady Gosden saddle both last year's G1 Coronation Cup heroine Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and multiple group winner Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Their Majesties The King and Queen are represented by the lightly raced Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) from the William Haggas stable. The 2022 National S. winner Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will line up for Joseph O'Brien.
Clash Of Generations Looms In Coral-Eclipse
Whilst the Derby features the pick of the Classic crop and the Coronation Cup is restricted to older horses, the £750,000 G1 Coral-Eclipse S. at Sandown is another prestigious contest to look forward to as the first big clash of the generations in the middle-distance division.
The 2024 edition of the Eclipse, due to be run on Saturday, July 6, has attracted 55 horses at the first entry stage. They include leading Derby contenders such as City Of Troy and Arabian Crown, while the cast of older horses is headed by the first two from last year's blue riband, Auguste Rodin and King Of Steel, plus Emily Upjohn, who filled the runner-up spot in the Eclipse after winning the Coronation Cup in 2023.
Others with the potential to make an impact if lining up at Sandown include Emily Upjohn's stablemate Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), last seen gaining her sixth top-level victory in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita in November, as well as Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) and Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who finished third and fourth, respectively, in the G1 2,000 Guineas won by Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) at Newmarket on Saturday.
Coral's David Stevens said of the entries, “In what will be the 49th year of our sponsorship of this historic race, the initial list of entries for this year's Coral-Eclipse is as star-studded as we can recall, with proven Group 1 winners of both sexes sitting alongside potential stars like the current Derby favourite, Arabian Crown.
“King Of Steel is our early favourite following his Champion Stakes win over this distance last season, with Emily Upjohn next in the betting as she looks to go one place better than last year.”
Big Evs Stars In Temple Entries
The current entries for the G2 Temple S. at Haydock Park were also released on Tuesday. Set for May 25, the five-furlong sprint has attracted 22 horses in this prep for Royal Ascot.
Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), who stamped his authority on the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint will return for Mick Appleby, while G3 Palace House S. one-two Seven Questions (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Vadream (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}) also step forward.
Recent listed victor Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) for Jessica Harrington is one of two Irish entries alongside the Coolmore partners' Aesop's Fables (Ire) (No Nay Never). From Australia, the smart multiple Group 2 winner Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) will make her first foray versus Northern Hemisphere sprinters for Henry Dwyer.
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