Derby

Aidan O'Brien has issued a positive bulletin on his big hopes for Classic glory at Epsom, with Betfred Derby favourite City Of Troy (Justify) and Oaks market leader Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) reported in good spirits. City Of Troy must bounce back from a disappointing display in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket where he trailed home in ninth behind Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). However, he was an odds-on shot for that contest on the back of last year's sensational juvenile exploits, which featured an ultra-impressive Dewhurst triumph, and...

NEWMARKET, UK -- It's Alex Cairns's day off but he's at the car park next to the Limekilns at 7.30 on Sunday morning. "If I can't do this for a Derby horse when would I do it?" he says as he awaits the arrival of the Derby second-favourite Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}). Cairns is head lad to the colt's trainer James Fanshawe. He chats to Rab Havlin. The pair both hail from the same west Scottish town of Saltcoats but Newmarket has long been their home.  Havlin was appointed...

The six-length G2 Dante S. winner Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) will not be supplemented for the Betfred Derby a week on Saturday with trainer William Haggas fearing the Classic test will come too soon.  The long-striding chestnut colt, owned by Isa Salman Al Khalifa, ran just once at two last November and returned in late April to win a Newbury maiden before heading to York on May 16.  Economics had been taken out of the Derby entries before the Dante but had been listed as second-favourite for Epsom...

EPSOM, UK -- The names Morston (GB) and Lammtarra were being bandied about as Voyage (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) stepped onto the track at Epsom on Tuesday morning. In 1974 and 1995 respectively, that pair came to the Derby on the back of one run, but what they lacked in experience they made up for in brilliance.  Voyage's trainer Richard Hannon has had two previous runners in the Derby, the 2021 runner-up Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Humphrey Bogart (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}), who finished fifth five years earlier. ...

EPSOM, UK -- Some may not find an overcast morning in the middle of a deserted racecourse all that exciting but more fool them. Because all around the Epsom Downs the small temporary village that by this time next Friday will constitute the base for the Betfred Derby Festival is gradually being constructed and the sense of occasion is rising.  But of course there's no Derby without horses, and four potential contenders for the race that remains the highlight of every Flat season gained an early sighter of the course...

Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), who had been as short as 7-2 for Derby glory, will miss his intended engagement at Epsom after suffering a setback. The news was announced on Friday morning by the official Godolphin account on X. A statement read, "Unfortunately Arabian Crown will miss the @EpsomRacecourse Derby due to a setback. He will now be aimed at a late summer campaign." Trained by Charlie Appleby, Arabian Crown has won four of his five starts, including a taking reappearance in the Bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown.  He...

On Wednesday May 8, 2024, as on all days, there were many things to be upset about: the conflagration in Gaza, the news from Ukraine, or a splash in The Guardian that said climate change is accelerating wildly. Into the bad news cycle too dropped the death of a beautiful horse, Hidden Law, who won a Derby trial at Chester exuberantly only to sustain a fatal injury just after the finishing post. Chester racecourse is a fragrant place, colourful and fizzy for its big May meeting. The sadness that settled...

Aidan O'Brien has suggested that he left City Of Troy (Justify) "too fresh" ahead of what turned out to be a bitterly disappointing return in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday but went on to explain that last season's European Champion Two-Year-Old remains on course to run in the Derby.  City Of Troy trailed home in ninth, beaten 17 lengths by the winner Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), despite being sent off at odds of 4-6 for the 2,000 Guineas. He can now be backed at odds as big...

NEWMARKET, UK -- Charlie Appleby, who takes aim at a fourth victory in the Bet365 Craven S. on Thursday with Native Approach (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), took advantage of the Rowley Mile early on Wednesday morning to give one of his Derby prospects, Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), a racecourse gallop. The winner of the G3 Zetland S. at the course last October, Arabian Crown, ridden by William Buick, worked over seven furlongs alongside his older stable-mate King Of Conquest (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and James Doyle. "He...

Derby winner North Light (Ire) (Danehill) was euthanized on Mar. 20 due to complications from laminitis, The Stronach Group announced on Thursday. The 23-year-old stallion had been pensioned since 2020 and will be laid to rest at Adena South in Ocala Florida. Bred and raced by Ballymacoll Stud and trained by Sir Michael Stoute, the son of G1 Prix du Cadran heroine Sought Out (Ire) (Rainbow Quest) won one of two starts at two, and added the G2 Dante S. and G1 Derby in succession during the spring of 2004....

Aidan O'Brien is busy preparing for what could turn out to be one of his boldest ever campaigns at Ballydoyle with plans in place for City Of Troy (Justify) to tackle the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby followed by an audacious tilt at the Travers S. on the dirt at Saratoga later this summer. Meanwhile, dual Derby and Breeders' Cup hero Auguste Rodin (Deep Impact {Jpn}), arguably the most important older horse to have been kept in training at Ballydoyle for many years, is set to get his campaign underway...

Following its inaugural sponsorship last year, Betfred has increased its support of the Derby meeting and now has naming rights to the two-day fixture at Epsom, which will be branded the Betfred Derby Festival.  The company's partnership with the Jockey Club will continue until at least 2026. Betfred will now sponsor six of the races across Oaks day and Derby day, including those  two Classics, with the original three-year deal extended by a further 12 months. "Following on from a memorable two days at Epsom last year we are delighted...