Epsom Derby

Hollie Doyle has described Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) as being "everything you want in a racehorse" ahead of her bid to become the first female rider to win a Classic when she partners John and Thady Goden's rapidly-improving filly in the Cazoo Oaks at Epsom on Friday.  Doyle is well used to breaking boundaries at this stage, with her tally of 152 winners in 2021 surpassing her own record of winners in a calendar year for a female jockey. She has also ridden two five-timers, became the first woman to...

Steve Cauthen, the American jockey who enjoyed huge success when riding in the UK-including Derby victories aboard Slip Anchor and Reference Point--remembered the greatest of them all, Lester Piggott, who died on Sunday, aged 86.  Recalling what started out as a frosty relationship between the pair, Cauthen, who will form part of ITV Racing's presentation team at this year's Derby meeting, paid a glowing tribute to his great friend and rival.  Cauthen said, "As time went on, obviously we became competitors, as I started to get chances on better horses...

The International Thoroughbred Breeders' Federation bi-annual Conference, hosted by the ITBF and the British Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, will take place at Newmarket June 6-10. Last held in Lexington in 2018, the conference, which was slated to be held in Paris in 2020, was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Around 70 delegates from 23 countries across six continents are expected to attend. The programme of events takes place over a week and offers members an opportunity to network with other nations as well as raise breeding and wider Thoroughbred industry...

Charlie Appleby has confirmed that Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) will be supplemented at a cost of £75,000 for the G1 Cazoo Derby on June 4 after sparkling in what was a crucial workout on Wednesday. The Moulton Paddocks handler already had two contenders for this year's renewal of the premier Classic in Blue Riband Trial winner Nahanni (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Lingfield Derby Trial runner-up Walk Of Stars (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). But after giving that pair an experience of Epsom at the Cazoo Gallops Morning on Monday, Appleby revealed...

Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett (GB) will carry the hopes of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing in the G1 Cazoo Derby on Saturday week after connections ruled out running the promising Lysander (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) in the Epsom Classic. Runner-up to Derby favourite Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the Dante S. at York a fortnight ago, Royal Patronage will bid to reverse that form at Epsom, while Listed Cocked Hat S. third Lysander will be aimed at Royal Ascot following his defeat at Goodwood. Highclere's Harry Herbert said: "We had...

Charlie Appleby has hinted at supplementing Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) for the Cazoo Derby on Saturday week and suggested that the decision hinges on how the colt performs in a key piece of work on Wednesday morning. Nations Pride has won his last four starts and, while he did not take part in the gallops morning at Epsom on Monday, he dominated conversation with Appleby revealing that he was leaning towards stumping up the £75,000 supplementation fee to run in the Derby.  A general 10-1 chance for Derby glory,...

ROSEGREEN, Ireland--Ryan Moore will find it difficult to ride anything other than Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Cazoo Derby, according to Aidan O'Brien, who may be without the ace--Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB})--in his Epsom pack, but expects to run up to six colts as he bids for a record-extending ninth win in the race on June 4. Stone Age didn't just open the door to a tilt at the Derby in winning the G3 Derby Trial at Leopardstown on Sunday, he kicked it open and announced himself as...

Never afraid to try something different or to think outside the box, trainer Kenny McPeek is preparing Tiz the Bomb (Hit It a Bomb) for a trip to the U.K. that could include starts in the G1 Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Apr. 30 and G1 Cazoo Derby at Epsom on June 4. The story was first reported by Thoroughbred Racing Commentary. "Who wouldn't want to win a race like the English Derby?" McPeek said. "It would be special, really special. What was it that Tesio said? The entire...

Ninety-one entries have been taken for the G1 Cazoo Derby, which is set to be run for the 243rd time at Epsom Downs on June 4. This year's Derby will include Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Her Majesty The Queen, and the Derby features three entries from her stable, headed by her homebred G3 Solario S. winner Reach For The Moon (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), trained by John and Thady Gosden. Champion 2-year-old Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) is nominated, as are top 2021 2-year-olds like El Bodegon (Ire)...

A life as long and rich as that of Alice Headley Chandler, which drew to a peaceful close on Tuesday, Apr. 6, at her home in Lexington, Kentucky, at the age of 95, is measured by four generations--from her surviving contemporaries to her great-grandchildren--for whom the black raiment of mourning will surely be brightened by cheerful scarves of pride. And that's not just because of the consolations available in remembrance of a wonderful character or celebration of her wonderful achievements. For this iconic Kentucky horsewoman was always animated by a...

John Magnier's Irish-based Coolmore is dominating Britain. That's not hyperbole, either. How's this for an illustration? The Irish entity, which generally campaigns its runners under the various partnership colors of Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, has won an astonishing 25 of the past 49 British Classics over the last decade (see the accompanying charts of the five races), with the G1 St. Leger at Doncaster yet to be contested. And it's possible that the partners could win that race, perhaps with Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who followed up...

Saturday sees racing continue its measured defiance of the chaos around the globe, with the 241st renewal of one of the beautiful races, the G1 Investec Derby, emanating light as a beacon to the world's audience from its traditional home of Epsom Downs in Surrey. As it is, this will likely be the only post-Royal Ascot one, which adds a fascinating new dimension to a dramatically purse-reduced renewal and also to the stage-sharing G1 Investec Oaks. Due to the vagaries of the current situation, only one of the 24 colts...