G1 Derby

Aidan O'Brien has confirmed City Of Troy (Justify), Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and outsider Euphoric (GB) (Frankel {GB}) as his three intended runners in the G1 Betfred Derby at Epsom on Saturday. "That is what we're thinking of, maybe the three," O'Brien said in a Zoom call hosted by France Galop on Tuesday. "Everything seems well with them all at the moment, so that's what we're thinking. "They're giving Friday and Saturday dry [forecast], so you often see the ground can be slow for the Oaks and perfect for...

Following Monday's confirmation stage, there remains the possibility of a maximum field going to post for Saturday's G1 Betfred Derby at Epsom, with City Of Troy (Justify) the standout name among 20 colts still in contention for the Classic. Unbeaten in three starts as a two-year-old, City Of Troy is a short-priced favourite to provide trainer Aidan O'Brien with a record-extending tenth success in the Derby, despite disappointing on his return to action in the G1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. O'Brien could field up to six runners at Epsom, with...

Robert Havlin has been booked to ride Ambiente Friendly (Ire) in the G1 Betfred Derby, replacing Callum Shepherd aboard the leading Epsom contender when the Classic is run on Saturday, June 1. Trained by James Fanshawe, Ambiente Friendly has been ridden by Shepherd in both his previous starts this season, most notably in the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial S. earlier this month when he announced himself as a potentially top-class colt with an impressive four-and-a-half-length victory. The son of Gleneagles (Ire) is now a best-priced 5/1 for the Derby and...

Twenty-one colts remain in contention for the G1 Betfred Derby following the latest scratching deadline for the Classic, which will be run at Epsom on Saturday, June 1. Aidan O'Brien, who saddled a record-extending ninth winner of the Derby when Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was successful in 2023, could be mob-handed this year with up to seven runners. His entries include the outstanding two-year-old of 2023, City Of Troy (Justify), who will be trying to emulate Auguste Rodin by bouncing back from a disappointing return to action in...

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....

Originally slated to contest the G2 Dante S. next month, Listed Blue Riband Trial winner Bellum Justum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) will instead head straight to the G1 Derby on June 1, trainer Andrew Balding confirmed on Thursday. A winner of a Newmarket maiden at fourth asking in September, the King Power Racing-owned colt ran out a three-quarter length winner of the Epsom pointer on Apr. 23. "We were delighted with his win in the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom and the plan now is to go straight for...

Ballysax S. winner Dallas Star (Fr) (Cloth Of Stars {Ire}) and impressive Newbury maiden winner Hidden Law (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) feature among 69 entries for the G1 Derby at Epsom having been added at a cost of £12,000 at the second entry stage. Trained by Dominic Ffrench Davis as a juvenile, Dallas Star caused a 50/1 upset when making every yard of the running to claim Group 3 honours at Leopardstown on his first start for Adrian Murray. One of 22 Irish-trained entries for the richest race in Britain, Dallas...

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....

Dual Group 1 winner Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who won the Derby and King George in 2022, emerged from his Wednesday gallop in good order and is on target for the G1 Juddmonte International on Aug. 2. "Desert Crown worked this morning, he worked nicely and everybody was happy with him," said Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail. "He's not a great worker, as has been stated before, but everyone was very happy with him this morning and everything went as well as expected." The Sir Michael...

Ben Newman, who was filmed running onto the Epsom Downs course after the Derby had started and was subsequently apprehended by security in June, was spared jail time after his 18 weeks of imprisonment was suspended for two years, Sky Sports reported on Thursday. The defendant, 32 and part of  protest group Animal Rising, was also fined a total of £1,356. The defendant entered a guilty plea at Guildford Crown Court for causing a public nuisance. The judge criticised Newman for "endangering" the lives of police and security stationed around...

Fresh off of his victory in the G3 Ballysax S. on Sunday, White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) leads 19 other colts as second entries for the G1 Derby at Epsom on Saturday, June 3. Owned by Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez and trained by John Murphy, the colt scored a half-length upset in the Ballysax at 22-1. Several Derby second entries were also made by Charlie Appleby on behalf of Godolphin. Leading the sextet is GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf second Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), while listed winner Naval Power...

Charlie Appleby, fresh off two consecutive UK trainers' titles,  will have a host of stars to go to war with in 2023, among them Godolphin's undefeated G2 Gimcrack S. hero Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}). The son of listed winner and Group 3-placed Eartha Kitt (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), named a 'TDN Rising Star' off his winning debut at Ascot in May, is earmarked for the G3 Greenham S. in April, before a possible bid for G1 2000 Guineas glory in May. He said, "Noble Style has not been seen since...