Where Did They Come From?

G1 Investec Derby

AMHRAN NA BHFIANN (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}-Alluring Park {Ire}, by Green Desert)
The lightly raced Amhran Na Bhfiann is looking to break his maiden in this ambitious spot, and the Lodge Park Stud-bred, 1.3-million gns yearling has Classic capability on pedigree, being a full-brother to the likewise Coolmore campaigned G1 Investec Oaks winner Was (Ire) and the G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial winner Douglas Macarthur (Ire). The listed-placed dam Alluring Park has also produced the listed-winning Janood (Ire) (Medicean {GB}) and the dual Group 3-placed Al Naamah (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and is a half-sister to Derby winner and five-time Group 1 winner New Approach (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

EMISSARY (GB) (Kingman {GB}-Soviet Moon {Ire}, by Sadler's Wells)
A homebred for Khalid Abdullah, what Emissary lacks in racecourse experience he makes up for in pedigree, being a half-brother to Juddmonte's 2010 Derby winner Workforce (GB) (King's Best). Emissary is the seventh foal out of Soviet Moon, who remarkably overcame six consecutive barren years to produce him.  Emissary is an unraced daughter of the G3 Park Hill S. winner Eva Luna (Alleged) and a full-sister to G1 St Leger winner Brian Boru (GB) and a half to three other stakes winners including triple Group 2 winner Sea Moon (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}).

ENGLISH KING (FR) (Camelot {GB}-Platonic {GB}, by Zafonic)
English King was bred by Ecurie des Monceaux and partners and is a descendant of that nursery's inspired purchase Platonic (GB) (Zafonic). Now 21, Platonic cost 100,000gns from Tattersalls December in 2004. In addition to the Derby favourite she has left behind stakes winners Pacifique (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Prudenzia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), the latter having already outdone herself as a producer as the dam of G1 Irish Oaks winner Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and G1 Mackinnon S. victress Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Platonic and her daughters have cumulatively produced eight seven-figure yearlings and three yearling sale top lots. English King was himself a €210,000 Arqana October yearling purchase by Bjorn Nielsen through agent Jeremy Brummitt, and a Derby winner would be a fitting tribute to a family that has already produced so much. Platonic has been pensioned at Monceaux after her Siyouni foal of 2020 sadly died.

GOLD MAZE (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}-Astonishing {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire})
The Apple Tree Stud-bred Gold Maze would be entitled to win a Derby on pedigree alone, being by a blue riband winner with a broodmare sire who also has such a great record in the race, but he will have to buck some major trends to break his maiden in the Epsom showpiece. The Long Wait Partnership colourbearer continues to work on justifying his 550,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 pricetag, but placings in last year's G2 Beresford S. and this year's G3 Gallinule S. indicate he is not without ability.

HIGHLAND CHIEF (IRE) (Gleneagles {Ire}-Pink Symphony {GB}, by Montjeu {Ire})
A homebred for Fitri Hay, the last-out Golden Gates H. winner Highland Chief is out of the G3 Give Thanks S. winner Pink Symphony (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}). That one is in turn a three-quarter-sister to GIII Modesty H. victress Fantasia (GB) (Sadler's Wells), whose promising 3-year-old Berlin Tango (GB) (Dansili {GB}) was recently sold to Hong Kong. Another sister produced the talented middle-distance performer Western Hymn (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}), while the third dam is the champion 2-year-old filly Blue Duster (Danzig).

KAMEKO (Kitten's Joy-Sweeter Still {Ire}, by Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire})
The G1 2000 Guineas winner Kameko was a $90,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Qatar Racing through its advisor David Redvers. His dam, Sweeter Still, has had a remarkable swing of fortune in a short space of time; the half-sister to G1 Racing Post Trophy winner Kingsbarns (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) had been among the stars of Keeneland's January sale in 2014, selling to Royal Oaks Farm for $750,000 in foal to Galileo. Just two years later her pricetag had dropped to $35,000 when Calumet Farm purchased her from Keeneland November carrying Kameko, and a further two years after that she brought a measly $1,500. Qatar Bloodstock was able to secure Sweeter Still privately before Kameko made a racecourse appearance, and she now resides at Hunter Valley Farm in Versailles, Kentucky and is in foal to Kitten's Joy. Redvers also secured Kameko's 2-year-old three-quarter sister by the Kitten's Joy son Big Blue Kitten for £200,000 from the Arqana breeze-up sale on Wednesday.

KHALIFA SAT (IRE) (Free Eagle {Ire}-Thermopylae {GB}, by Tenby {GB})
Bred by Declan Phelan and Irish National Stud, the Listed Cocked Hat S. winner Khalifa Sat was a €20,000 Goffs November Foal purchase by Coolroe House Stud and a €40,000 Goffs Orby yearling selection by trainer Andrew Balding. The placed Tenby mare Thermopylae outdid herself as a producer; in addition to her Derby hopeful she threw the G3 Give Thanks S. winner and St Leger second Unsung Heroine (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and the listed-placed Ghostmilk (Ire) (Golan {Ire}).

MAX VEGA (IRE) (Lope De Vega {Ire}-Paraphernalia {Ire}, by Dalakhani {Ire})
Bred by Tullpark Stud, the G3 Zetland S. victor Max Vega was a €47,000 vendor buyback as a foal at Goffs November before trainer Ralph Beckett scooped him up for €25,000 at the Orby sale. The listed-placed dam Paraphernalia has also produced the listed-placed Camphor (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and is a half-sister to the G3 Phoenix Sprint S. winner Girouette (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}).

MOGUL (GB) (Galileo {Ire}-Shastye {Ire}, by Danehill)
Mogul is the latest luminary out of Newsells Park Stud's outstanding producer Shastye. The 3.4-million gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling is a full-brother to last year's G1 Juddmonte International, G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G2 King Edward VII S. winner Japan (GB), who was third in the Derby, as well as the G2 Middleton S. victress Secret Gesture (GB) and the G3 International S. winner Sir Isaac Newton (GB). The second dam Saganeca (Sagace {Fr}) won the G2 Prix de Royallieu and produced the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sagamix (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) and the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud scorer Sagacity (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}) as well as the dam of the G1 Prix d'Ispahan winner Sageburg (Ire) (Johannesburg).

MOHICAN HEIGHTS (IRE) (Australia {GB}-Mohican Princess {GB}, by Shirley Heights {GB})
Bred by Kevin Molloy, Mohican Heights was bought by Deuce Greathouse for €100,000 at Goffs Orby and started out with trainer Fozzy Stack. After breaking his maiden at first asking last May he was pitched into the Goffs London Sale, where he fetched £520,000 from trainer David Simcock. He won the Listed Stonehenge S. in August for the partnership of Qatar Racing and Sun Bloodstock, but was solely in the ownership of Sun Bloodstock when finishing third on seasonal debut behind Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) in the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot. His unplaced dam Mohican Princess has proven much more prolific as a producer, with Mohican Heights being one of six stakes horses out of her.

MYTHICAL (FR) (Camelot {GB}-Inchmina {GB}, by Cape Cross {Ire})
Mythical was bred by SAS Clear Light and was a €280,000 Arqana October yearling purchase by Mandore International Agency and represents the Coolmore partners. That triumvirate also campaigned his half-brother Johann Strauss (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}), and the mare has also left the Grade III-placed Inchargeofme (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}). The unraced Inchmina is a granddaughter of the top racemare Inchmurrin (Ire) (Lomond), whose legacy includes the Group 3-winning sire Inchinor (GB) (Ahonoora {GB}), GI E.P. Taylor S. victress Miss Keller (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), Pyledriver's sire Harbour Law and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. and G1 Prince of Wales's S. winner Poet's Word (GB) (Poet's Voice {GB}).

PYLEDRIVER (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}-La Pyle {Fr}, by Le Havre {Ire})
The hopes of all small breeders surely ride on the shoulders of Pyledriver. His dam, the 9-year-old La Pyle, was bought by Roger Devlin, Hugh and Guy Leach and two others as a National Hunt prospect, but after suffering some misfortune and showing little on the racecourse she was sent to the breeding shed to visit G1 St Leger winner Harbour Law and produce Pyledriver as her first foal. The bay colt found no friends in the sales ring and was led out unsold and without a bid as a Tattersalls December Foal, and his breeders are now living the dream with the G2 King Edward VII S. winner and Derby fancy. Meanwhile, La Pyle had received a nice update shortly after Pyledriver was conceived courtesy of her half-brother Mont Ormel (Fr) (Air Chief Marshal {Ire}) winning the G1 Grand Prix de Paris, and La Pyle's matings were considerably upgraded in the ensuing years; she has a 2-year-old filly by New Approach (Ire) named Country Pyle (GB), a yearling colt by Oasis Dream (GB), a filly foal by Frankel (GB) and is in foal to Kingman (GB).

RUSSIAN EMPEROR (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}-Atlantic Jewel {Aus}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus})
Should Russian Emperor prevail, he will hand the Coolmore partners a second straight Investec Derby with a colt by Galileo out of an Australian mare, with Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) having done the job last year. In the case of Russian Emperor, he is out of the multiple champion Atlantic Jewel, who was raced by Coolmore in partnership with Lauri Macri Down Under and who excelled in Group 1s from as short as seven furlongs and as far as a mile and a quarter. Russian Emperor is Atlantic Jewel's third foal and is raced as a homebred by the same partnership that campaigned the mare. Atlantic Jewel, who has visited Galileo exclusively since arriving in Tipperary five years ago, is a half-sister to Commanding Jewel (Aus) (Commands {Aus}) who, like her sister, won the G1 Thousand Guineas.

SERPENTINE (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}-Remember When {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire})
The June 27 Curragh maiden winner Serpentine campaigns as a Coolmore homebred and is the latest progeny of the prolific mare Remember When and Galileo; that mating has also produced the G2 Kilboy Estate S. winner Wedding Vow (Ire), G3 Gallinule S. victor Beacon Rock (Ire), G3 Blue Wind S. scorer Bye Bye Baby (Ire) and listed winner Bound (Ire). The G1 Investec Oaks second Remember When is a three-quarter sister to champion Dylan Thomas (Ire) (Danehill) and G1 1000 Guineas winner Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).

VATICAN CITY (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}-You'resothrilling, by Storm Cat)
Progeny of the remarkable mare You'resothrilling have thus far excelled at or around a mile, her five stakes winners by Galileo headed by the dual Guineas and St. James's Palace S. victor Gleneagles (Ire), G1 Irish 1000 Guineas victress Marvellous (Ire) and dual Group 1-winning juvenile Happily (Ire). Vatican City came close to adding to that honour roll when second to Siskin (First Defence) in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas on June 12, and he will now seek to add a new dimension to the pedigree. One wouldn't think it is outside the realm of possibility; while You'resothrilling herself was a sprint specialist, she is a full-sister to the middle distance great Giant's Causeway, and it is also the family of the triple Group 1 winner and young sire Decorated Knight (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and dual Derby placed Storm The Stars (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Vatican City, like all You'resothrilling's progeny, is a Coolmore homebred.

WORTHILY (Point Of Entry-Vignette, by Diesis)
Worthily is a second generation homebred for George Strawbridge, the Pennsylvanian having bred the listed-winning Vignette as well as three stakes winners out of her thus far, all by the late great Dynaformer. Those are headed by the St Leger victor Lucarno and also include the G2 Long Distance Cup winner Flying Officer and G2 Great Voltigeur S. scorer Thought Worthy. Worthily is by Dynaformer's Grade I-winning son Point Of Entry, and he has a massive class and experience jump to make off a debut victory at Newbury on June 11.

G1 Investec Oaks

BHARANI STAR (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}-Bat of Islands {FR}), by Dubawi {Ire})
Bred by Lars-Willhelm Baumgarten, she was bought at the Arqana August Yearling Sale for €270,000 by Phoenix Thoroughbreds and is the first foal of her dam, who is a half-sister to the top-class middle-distance performer Saddex (GB) (Sadler's Wells). Stamina won't be an issue but she only won her maiden on June 8 and was then five lengths behind Frankly Darling (GB) when fourth in the G2 Ribblesdale S.

ENNISTYMON (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}-Lahinch {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire})
A three-parts-sister to Liscanna (Ire), who is in turn the dam of the smart War Front siblings Hit It A Bomb and Brave Anna, Ennistymon is an Evie Stockwell homebred who had just one run at two and then won a 10-furlong Leopardstown maiden on June 9. She was runner-up in the G2 Ribblesdale S., finishing less than two lengths off the winner Frankly Darling (GB).

FRANKLY DARLING (GB) (Frankel {GB}-Hidden Hope {GB}), by Daylami {Ire})
The runaway winner on her 3-year-old debut at Newcastle on the day racing resumed in Britain post-lockdown, Frankly Darling stepped up in class to win the Ribblesdale with ease. A half-sister to the black-type earners Our Obsession and First In Line (GB), she hails from the family which produced the 2015 Derby and Arc winner Golden Horn (GB) and bids to give her owner-breeder Anthony Oppenheimer a longed-for first Oaks victory.

GOLD WAND (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}-Los Ojitos, by Mr Greeley)
Second to Anthony Oppenheimer's Domino Darling (GB) on debut last October to give their first-crop sire Golden Horn a one-two in a decent mile maiden, Gold Wand has raced just once since, winning a Newbury maiden over ten furlongs on June 11 for her owner-breeder Khalid Abdul Rahim of Friarstown Stud. Her dam raced solely on dirt and was Grade II-placed over six furlongs. A first Classic runner for her illustrious sire.

LOVE (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}-Pikaboo {GB}, by Pivotal {GB})
The impressive winner of the 1000 Guineas on her sole start of the season after a busy juvenile campaign which saw her race seven times for three victories, including the G1 Moyglare Stud S. Her sister is the hardy and versatile Group 3 winner Peach Tree (Ire), while half-sister Lucky Kristale (GB) won the G2 Lowther S. If there had been any lingering doubt as to her stamina claims, the manner of her Guineas victory suggested that she should handle a step up in trip.

PASSION (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}-Dialafara {Fr}, by Anabaa)
Completing the quartet of raiders who filled the first four places in the Ribblesdale, Passion, as a sister to the St Leger winner Capri (Ire), will not lack stamina. Her sole win to date came at Cork last year over a mile. Bred by Lynch Bages Ltd and Camas Park Stud, she was bought for 800,000gns from Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

QUEEN DAENERYS (Ire) (Frankel {GB}-Song To Remember, by Storm Cat)
Bred by Coolmore, she is a three-parts-sister to Grade III runner-up Galileo's Song (Ire) and was bought by Oliver St Lawrence for $500,000 on behalf of Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa at Keeneland's September Yearling Sale. A winner over a mile at Newmarket from three starts at two, she was then runner-up to Run Wild (Ger) in the listed Pretty Polly S. back at the Rowley Mile on her sole start this year.

TIEMPO VUELA (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}-Tempest Fugit {Ire}, by High Chaparral {Ire})
The second representative of Anthony Oppenheimer's Hascombe & Valiant Studs in the line-up, Tiempo Vuela has a bit to find with her John Gosden stable-mate. She was an impressive maiden winner at Newcastle in October but she has had just one start since when seventh of eight in the listed Pretty Polly S. Her dam was a listed winner over a mile and five furlongs and is a half-sister to the G1-winning sprinter Total Gallery (Ire) (Namid {GB}).