By Tom Frary
Aidan O'Brien will be represented by a trio in Saturday's G1 Betfred Derby, with Ryan Moore staying loyal to last year's champion juvenile City Of Troy (Justify) over the stable's other kingpin Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). As the draw for the Blue Riband took place on Epsom High Street, there was a very public blow to TDN Rising Star City Of Troy's chances as he was handed the dreaded stall one with all its disadvantages, with Los Angeles who will be partnered by Wayne Lordan faring slightly better in four. O'Brien had earlier withdrawn the trio Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Portland (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), while the Derby's other scratching was the Dominic ffrench-Davis-trained Padesha (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), leaving 16 to go to post on Saturday.
Of the other notables, Godolphin's G1 Futurity Trophy-winning TDN Rising Star Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) has drawn 11, The Gredley Family's Listed Lingfield Derby Trial winner Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) is in six and the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up Dancing Gemini (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is in 15. Drawing the “lucky” stall 10, which has housed 11 Derby winners, is the Gosdens' outsider God's Window (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
The longshots to make up the field are King Power Racing's Listed Blue Riband Trial winner Bellum Justum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Amo Racing's G3 Ballysax S. winner Dallas Star (Fr) (Cloth Of Stars {Ire}) and maiden Mr Hampstead (Galileo {Ire}), Green Team Racing's Deira Mile (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Ballydoyle third string Euphoric (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Abdulla Al Mansoori's Kamboo (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) and Tabletalk (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Juddmonte's Macduff (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Ahmad Al Shaikh's Sayedaty Sadaty (Ire) (Anodin {Ire}) and Julie Wood's Voyage (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}).
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