There is now just a fortnight until the 2012 Investec Derby Festival gets underway and the final fields for the Investec Derby and Investec Oaks are beginning to take shape following today’s scratchings deadline.
Run at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 2 and with a prize fund of at least £1,325,000, the Investec Derby has 24 colts going forward headed by the unbeaten Camelot, who is one of five remaining entries in the Group One contest for trainer Aidan O’Brien. Camelot was the impressive winner of the first Classic of the season, the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 5 and, if successful at Epsom Downs, would become the 37th colt to complete the 2000 Guineas/Derby double and the first since Sea The Stars in 2009. He is currently the 4/5 favourite for the Investec Derby with William Hill, Official Betting Partner of the 2012 Investec Derby Festival.
O’Brien, who is seeking a third Derby success following the victories of Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002), could also be represented by Imperial Monarch, who was victorious in the Group Three bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown Park on April 28, Astrology, who was the runaway 11-length winner of the Group Three Dee Stakes at Chester on May 11, Father Of Science, an impressive maiden winner at Chester last week and Tower Rock, who was the neck runner-up in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown on May 13. There is one other potential challenger from Ireland in the shape of the Jim Bolger-trained Parish Hall, who has not been seen out so far this season but was successful in the Group One Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last season.
The strongest rival to Camelot could prove to be yesterday’s Betfred Dante Stakes victor Bonfire, who is current the 6/1 second favourite with William Hill. The son of Manduro was an impressive winner at York and represents owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (Pocahontas Syndicate) and trainer Andrew Balding. Winners of the Dante Stakes have an impressive record in the Investec Derby in recent years with Authorized (2007), Motivator (2005) and North Light (2004) having won both races.
Other horses going forward to have won recognised trials for the Investec Derby include Chester Vase scorer Mickdaam and the unbeaten Main Sequence, who recorded his fourth and most recent victory in the Betfred Derby Trial at Lingfield Park on May 12.
Pour Moi in 2011 became the first French-trained winner of the Investec Derby since Empery in 1976 and there is one potential starter from France this season in Kesampour. Trained by Mikel Delzangles for owner the Aga Khan, Kesampour is unbeaten in four outings and was successful in the Group Two Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud on May 5 last time out - the same race that Pour Moi won en route to Classic glory at Epsom Downs.
Sir Henry Cecil, trainer of four winners of the Investec Derby, has three potential challengers this time around headed by Frankel’s full-brother Noble Mission, a Listed winner at Newmarket last time out who is declared to run at the same venue in a similar contest again tomorrow, plus Wrotham Heath and Thomas Chippendale.
The five-day conformation stage for the Investec Derby is on Monday, May 28, when there is also one final chance for connections to enter horses via the £75,000 supplementary entry stage.
LATEST ODDS FOR THE INVESTEC DERBY FROM WILLIAM HILL, OFFICIAL BETTING PARTNER OF THE 2012 INVESTEC DERBY FESTIVAL
THE FUGUE AND MAYBE AMONG 22 GOING FORWARD FOR INVESTEC OAKS
The Investec Derby Festival gets underway on Friday, June 1 when the £350,000 Investec Oaks takes centre stage.
A total of 22 fillies remain in the fillies’ Classic, which takes place over the same mile and a half course at Epsom Downs as the Investec Derby.
Currently vying for favouritism with William Hill, Official Betting Partner of the 2012 Investec Derby Festival are The Fugue and Maybe.
The Fugue, the 100/30 favourite with William Hill, finished a fine fourth on her seasonal reappearance in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 6, one place behind Maybe, but seemed to relish the step up in trip when an eye-catching winner of the Group Two Tattersalls Musidora Stakes over an extended 10 furlongs at York on May 16. She is trained by John Gosden for owner Lord and Lady Lloyd-Webber.
Maybe, who is the 7/2 second favourite with William Hill, was undefeated as a juvenile, including in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes, and is one of six remaining entries for trainer Aidan O’Brien along with Cheshire Oaks runner-up Betterbetterbetter, Devotion, recent Listed scorer Kissed, Musidora Stakes runner-up Twirl and Was.
In addition to holding an excellent chance in the Investec Derby with Bonfire, the Pocahontas Syndicate of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing also has a leading Investec Oaks contender in Vow, who was an impressive winner of the Betfred Oaks Trial at Lingfield on May 12, when she was three and a quarter lengths too strong for Colima. She is trained by William Haggas, successful in the Investec Oaks 12 months ago with Dancing Rain, who was his first runner in the Classic.
Alain de Royer Dupre supplies the one remaining French-trained contender in the shape of the Aga Khan’s Dalkala. The Giant’s Causeway filly is unbeaten in three outings, most recently recording an impressive victory at Saint-Cloud on May 15.
The six-day confirmation stage for the Investec Oaks is on Saturday, May 26 when there is also a £20,000 supplementary entry stage.
LATEST ODDS FOR THE INVESTEC OAKS FROM WILLIAM HILL, OFFICIAL BETTING PARTNER OF THE 2012 INVESTEC DERBY FESTIVAL
100/30 The Fugue, 7/2 Maybe, 9/2 Kissed, 5/1 Vow, 8/1 Kailani (needs to be supplemented), 14/1 Colima, Twirl, Up, 20/1 Firdaws, Was, 33/1 Betterbetterbetter, Coquet, Hazel Lavery, 40/1 BAR (EW ¼ 1, 2, 3)
LATEST GOING AND WEATHER
Andrew Cooper, Director of Racing at Epsom Downs, said today: “If we were racing today, I would say the going description would be good, good to soft in places. The ground is a bit dead, slightly on the slow side of good
“The last appreciable amount of rain we received was on Tuesday and it has been dry since then. The outlook remains for conditions to stay dry although temperatures will remain on the cool side for the time of year.
“Both the Investec Derby and the Investec Oaks in 2012 promise to be memorable contests and it is very pleasing to see all the main contenders going forward at this stage.”
For further information, please contact:
Andrew Cooper, Director of Racing at Epsom Downs Racecourse, on 07774 230850
Rupert Trevelyan, Managing Director at Epsom Downs Racecourse, on 01372 726311
Johnno Spence at JSC Sport on 07860 583307
THE 2012 INVESTEC DERBY Class 1, Group 1, £1,325,000 Total Prize Fund, 4.00pm, Epsom Downs, Saturday, June 2, 2012. For three-year-olds only, entire colts & fillies, one mile, four furlongs and 10 yards. Entries closed December 7, 2010 (478 entries). First scratchings deadline noon, March 6, 2012 (143 remained), £8,000 secondary entry stage noon, April 3, 2012 (5 second entries received), second scratchings deadline noon, May 18, 2012 (24 remain), £75,000 supplementary entry & five-day confirmation stage, noon, May 28, 2012, final declaration stage 10am, May 31, 2012. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Thursday, May 17, 2012. May not include some overseas form.
Form Horse Owner Trainer 0- AL MAMZAR (IRE) Abdulla Ahmad Al Shaikh David Simcock 133-1 ASTROLOGY (IRE) Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE 13-1 BONFIRE Highclere Thoroughbred Racing-Pocahontas Andrew Balding 11-1 CAMELOT Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE 4-3 CARDINAL WALTER (IRE) Fitri Hay David Simcock 33211-(3) CAVALEIRO (IRE) Guy Brook Marcus Tregoning 2115- FARHAAN (USA) Hamdan Al Maktoum John Dunlop 51 FATHER OF SCIENCE (IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE 1-1 IMPERIAL MONARCH (IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE 11-11 KESAMPOUR (FR) H H Aga Khan Mikel Delzangles FR 11-1(1) MAIN SEQUENCE (USA) Niarchos Family David Lanigan 11- MANDAEAN Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni 12 MARINER'S CROSS (IRE) Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni 301-(6)(2)(1)(4)21 MICKDAAM (IRE) Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum Richard Fahey 215 MINIMISE RISK Fitri Hay Andrew Balding 2-11 NOBLE MISSION Khalid Abdulla Sir Henry Cecil 12021- PARISH HALL (IRE) Jackie Bolger Jim Bolger IRE 12-6 PERENNIAL Khalid Abdulla Charlie Hills 51- RUGGED CROSS Thomas Barr Henry Candy 01- THOMAS CHIPPENDALE (IRE) Sir Robert Ogden Sir Henry Cecil 1-2 THOUGHT WORTHY (USA) George Strawbridge John Gosden 613-32 TOWER ROCK (IRE) Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE 03-0 VENEGAZZU (IRE) Eledy Srl Peter Chapple-Hyam 01-2 WROTHAM HEATH Khalid Abdulla Sir Henry Cecil
24 entries remain after May 18 scratchings deadline 6 Irish-trained 1 French-trained
THE FOLLOWING HORSES WERE REMOVED AT THE MAY 18 SCRATCHINGS DEADLINE: AAZIF (IRE), ACCREDIT (IRE), AKEED MOFEED, AL SAHAM, ALINDJAR (IRE), ALJAMAAHEER (IRE), ALL THAT RULES, ALMAAS (USA), AMIRA'S PRINCE (IRE), APOLLO ELEVEN (IRE), APOLLO (IRE), ATHENS (IRE), BASSETERRE (IRE), BIOGRAPHER, BORDONI (USA), BORN TO SEA (IRE), BURNHAM, CALGACUS (IRE), CALL TO BATTLE (IRE), CAMERON HIGHLAND (IRE), CHICAGO (IRE), CONTINUUM, COTTESMORE (USA), CRYING WOLF (USA), DALIANCE (IRE), DANDY (GER), DANEKING, DAVID LIVINGSTON (IRE), DREAM TUNE, DYNASTIC, EBAZAN (USA), EHTEDAAM (USA), EL GRECO (IRE), ELYASSAAT, ENCKE (USA), ENERGIZE (FR), ENTIFAADHA, EQUALIZER, ERNEST HEMINGWAY (IRE), ESTEBSAAL (IRE), EXTERMINATE (IRE), EXTREMELY ALERT, FENCING (USA), FORGOTTEN HERO (IRE), FRONTIER (GER), FURNER'S GREEN (IRE), FUTURE SECURITY (IRE), GABRIAL THE GREAT (IRE), GHOSTLY BRIGHT (USA), GOLD RALLY (USA), GOOD OF LUCK, GRANDILOQUENT, GUEST OF HONOUR (IRE), HAIL (IRE), HALLING'S QUEST, HANDSOME MAN (IRE), HANSEATIC, HOMERIC (IRE), IBTAHAJ, INTHAR (USA), INVISIBLE HUNTER (USA), JUNGLE BEAT (IRE), KALIK (FR), KASHGAR, KING OF THE PICTS (IRE), KING OF DUDES, KINGLET (USA), LAGO MINTO, LEARN (IRE), LEBRON (IRE), LOOPDELOO (IRE), LOTHIAN SKY (IRE), LUNAYIR (FR), MANDOUR (USA), MARCHESE MARCONI (IRE), MARSHGATE LANE (USA), MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT (IRE), MICHELANGELO, MIGHTY AMBITION (USA), MOSHAAGIB (USA), MUBARAZA (IRE), MUTASADDER (USA), MYSTERIOUS MAN (IRE), NEPHRITE, OFFER (IRE), OMAR KHAYYAM, OPTIMIST (IRE), PEMBREY, PRINCE OF ORANGE (IRE), PULVERIZE (USA), PURPLE BAY (IRE), REIGNS OF GLORY (IRE), REPRESENTATION (USA), ROCK SUPREME (IRE), ROYAL EMPIRE (IRE), RULE BOOK (IRE), SADMA, SHAMSIKHAN (IRE), SHANTARAM, SHIHAB (IRE), SHUJA (USA), SIR GRAHAM WADE (IRE), SPEAKING OF WHICH (IRE), STAR FOR LIFE (USA), STENCIVE, SUN CENTRAL (IRE), SWEDISH SAILOR, SYNCHRONICITY (IRE), TAIGAN (USA), TENTH STAR (IRE), THAT'S PLENTY (IRE), THOMAS DYLAN (IRE), THOMASGAINSBOROUGH (IRE), TIBET (IRE), TOP OFFER, TOTALLY DOMINANT (USA), TREND IS MY FRIEND (USA), UNANIMOUS (IRE), UNEX MICHELANGELO (IRE), USTURA (USA), VALIDUS, VEDANI (IRE), WARWICK AVENUE (IRE), WROTE (IRE)
THE 2012 INVESTEC OAKS Class 1, Group 1, £350,000 Total Prize Fund. 4.05pm, Epsom Downs, Friday, June 1, 2012. For three-year-old fillies only. One mile & four furlongs. Weights: 9st each. Entries closed March 13, entries revealed March 15 (95 entries). Scratchings deadline noon, May 18 (22 remain). £20,000 supplementary entry stage and six-day confirmation stage May 26, final declaration stage 10.00am, May 30. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and include the racing up to and including Thursday, March 17.
Form Horse Owner Trainer (2)10- ALBAMARA Kirsten Rausing Sir Mark Prescott Bt (4)1205-(5)30 ARSAADI (IRE) Sultan Ali William Haggas 2(1)2 BETTERBETTERBETTER (IRE) Roisin Henry & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE 1-(2) COLIMA (IRE) Mr and Mrs David Aykroyd Ralph Beckett (4)(1)1- COQUET Hon Mary Morrison & Partners Hughie Morrison 1-11 DALKALA (USA) S A Aga Khan Alain de Royer Dupre FR 00146-(3)2 DEVOTION (IRE) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE 246-24 EVERLONG C G P Wyatt Peter Chapple-Hyam 213- FIRDAWS (USA) Hamdan Al Maktoum Roger Varian 312-2 HAZEL LAVERY (IRE) R Morecombe, E O'Leary, R Scarborough Charlie Hills 1-1 KISSED (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE 1-3 LACILY (USA) Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni 11111-3 MAYBE (IRE) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE 4-1 MORANT BAY (IRE) Noel Martin Sir Henry Cecil 024331-20 NAYARRA (IRE) Prince A A Faisal Mick Channon PINK DAMSEL (IRE) Fitri Hay Roger Varian 21- SHIROCCO STAR Helena Springfield Ltd Hughie Morrison 1-41 THE FUGUE Lord Lloyd-Webber John Gosden 54- TOPTEMPO Roalco Limited Mark Tompkins 31-22 TWIRL (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE 1(1) VOW Highclere Thoroughbred Racing-Pocahontas William Haggas 1-3 WAS (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
22 entries remain after May 18 scratchings deadline 6 Irish-trained 1 French-trained
THE FOLLOWING HORSES WERE REMOVED AT THE MAY 18 SCRATCHINGS DEADLINE: ABYSSINIE (IRE), AFFECTIONATELY, ALLA SPERANZA, ALONE (IRE), ALONG (IRE), ALOOF (IRE), AMARAJA (GER), AMERIQUE (IRE), ANISEED (IRE), ANJAZ (USA), APOTHECARY, AQUILLA (IRE), ASTEYA (IRE), BANA WU, BUGIE D'AMORE, CAITLIN, CLEOFILA (IRE), CORSETRY (USA), CUBANITA, DEFY THE ODDS, DEMURELY (IRE), DESERT GAZELLE (USA), DISCOURSE (USA), DREAMS OF FIRE (USA), DROPS (IRE), DULKASHE (IRE), EASTER DIVA (IRE), EPOQUE (USA), ESTRELA, ETERNAL BOUNTY (IRE), FALLS OF LORA (IRE), FATE (FR), FRAGONARD, GAMILATI, HASTEN (IRE), HEPWORTH, HOMECOMING QUEEN (IRE), IRON BUTTERFLY, KUNOOZ (IRE), LAUGH OUT LOUD, LIGHT ZABEEL (USA), LYRIC OF LIGHT, MAKANA (FR), MANDISTANA (FR), MIRACLE MAID, PALE MIMOSA (IRE), PETALUMA, POPULAR, PREFERENTIAL, RECKONING (IRE), REQUIRE, SAFARJAL (IRE), SAGAWARA, SAMITAR, SAYTARA (IRE), SECRETS AWAY (IRE), SEDUCING (IRE), SHADA (IRE), SHEMBARA (FR), SHESTHEMAN, SOON (IRE), SURPRISE MOMENT (IRE), SWINGLAND, THRAYA STAR (FR), TIFFILIA (IRE), TUMOOH (IRE), UP (IRE), VIRGINIA GALLICA (IRE), WADING (IRE), WAHYLAH (IRE), WONDERFUL (IRE), WORLD CLASS, ZIMIRA (IRE)
CAMELOT HEADS 24 REMAINING IN INVESTEC DERBYThere is now just a fortnight until the 2012 Investec Derby Festival gets underway and the final fields for the Investec Derby and Investec Oaks are beginning to take shape following today’s scratchings d