An open race with favouritisim disputed by Yeats and Snow Ridge.
American Post’s participation has been uncertain for a long time
and connections are unsure of how the colt will act on the firmer
going.
AMERICAN POST: Won six of seven, losing on debut by a short head.
Unbeaten this year, he is coming off a fortunate win in the French
2000 Guineas. The son of Bering gained his last win when Antonius
Pius jinked in the final stages of the French classic. Trained by
Criquette Head-Maarek, he bids to give Juddmonte Farms their third
Epsom Derby. A brilliant two year old, he won both the Grand Criterium
and Racing Post Trophy. He has yet to run further than a mile but
his pedigree suggests the trip will be no problem. His connections
are worried about the firmer going he seems likely to encounter
at Epsom.
COMING AGAIN: The outsider in the race. He has yet to win a race
in three starts to date for Barry Hills. Beaten a short head by
Motive on his last start, he previously ran second on debut to talented
So Will I. Looks out of his depth here. His pedigree suggests he
will enjoy the distance-a son of Rainbow Quest he is from the family
of Irish River and Dynasty.
ELSHADI: A high class two year old, he won his first two starts,
before running fourth in the group three Autumn Stakes to the smart
Fantastic View. The latter was a well beaten second in the Racing
Post Trophy to American Post. He thrashed smart Let The Lion Roar,
who runs here, on his second start and obviously has some ability.
He has not run this year, although jockey Richard Hills has been
talking up his chances. It is not known if he will stay the trip,
being a son of top class miler, Cape Cross and a half brother to
smart ten furlong horse, Highdown.
GATWICK: A late addition to the final Derby field. Once raced at
two, when beaten into third on debut, the son of Ali-Royal is one
of the most improved horses in the UK. He has to date yet to run
out of the placings in five starts, including an impressive win
last time out over Makfool at Haydock. Has yet to run further than
a mile and his pedigree suggests stamina could find him out. He
does take a substantial step up in class from handicapper to group
one and it is difficult to know what to make of him.
HAZYVIEW: An impressive winner of both the Newmarket and Fairway
Stakes, but beaten by ten lengths by Percussionist at Lingfield
in the Derby trial. He did beat subsequent stakes Tahreeb in the
Newmarket Stakes but looks to have a task overturning the form with
Percussionist. A son of Cape Cross, his dam is a daughter of Woodman.
He has won five of 11 starts to date. Neville Callaghan trains.
LET THE LION ROAR: A talking horse over the winter for the race,
but his form suggests he may be outclassed here. Third in the Dante
Stakes, he is lightly raced having run just four times for two wins
and two placings. He will improve with distance being a Sadler’s
Wells half brother to St Leger hero Millenary. John Dunlop trains-he
has won the Derby twice-with Shirley Heights in 1978 and Erhaab
in 1994.
MASSIF CENTRALE: A half brother to Count Dubois, he has made two
starts to date. One of two Elsworth runners in the field he has
yet to break his maiden. Unplaced on debut he was second to Remadd
on his last start. Hard to fancy.
MEATH: Uncertain runner at this stage. An impressive winner of
the Gallinule Stakes at his last start, he may run in Sunday’s French
Derby instead. Solid form in Ireland, including running a neck second
to the smart Grey Swallow. Prior to his Gallinule he ran a neck
second to useful D’Anjou-conqueror of Surveyor in Dubai. A son of
Sadler’s Wells, he is Ballydoyle’s main hope now original favourite
Yeats has been withdrawn.
MOSCOW BALLET: An unlikely starter. A smart two year old who ran
second to Snow Ridge in the Royal Lodge when beaten under a length.
Unplaced in the Dante Stakes behind North Light when finishing over
13 lengths. A Sadler’s Wells half brother to Stravinsky, he is another
Ballydoyle hopeful.
NORTH LIGHT: Winner of the Dante Stakes-the son of Danehill represents
last year’s winning combination of Sir Michael Stoute and Kieran
Fallon. He won the ten furlong Dante on his first start at three
over useful Rule of Law-third to Snow Ridge in last year’s Royal
Lodge Stakes. Out of Prix Du Cadran winner, Sought Out, he is from
the family of new SA sire, Tamburlaine. He has won two of three
starts to date. Damsire Rainbow Quest is maternal grandsire of last
year’s winner, Kris Kin.
PERCUSSIONIST: A ten length winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial
on soft ground beating subsequent stakes winner Hazyview. The lack
of enthusiasm on the part of his connections seemed strange after
the race. Trained by John Gosden, who trained Benny The Dip to win
in 1997, he is another son of Sadler’s Wells. Out of smart racemare
Magnificent Style, he is a half brother to Sun Chariot winner Echoes
in Eternity. He has won two of four starts, both at three.
PUKKA: Won his last two starts, a maiden and a Newbury handicap.
Another son of Sadler’s Wells, trainer Luca Cumani has trained two
Derby winners in Kahyasi and High-Rise. Takes a huge jump in class
from handicaps to the Derby. Improving sort, bred on similar terms
to 2002 winner High Chaparral.
RULE OF LAW: A strong second string for Godolphin, he was a good
second in the Dante on his first start as a three year old. Winner
of the Acomb Stakes at two, he was beaten a short head by Moscow
Ballet when third in the Royal Lodge. There is little to choose
between him and North Light, who beat him by half a length. A son
of Kingmambo, he is from Teenoso’s family, winner in 1983.
SALFORD CITY: Winner of his first two starts impressively, including
a win in the Greenham Stakes. He was disappointing in the 2000 Guineas,
when only sixth to Haafhd as second favourite, beaten over four
lengths. Rated very highly by trainer David Elsworth, the colt has
attracted support in the market despite stamina doubts. By Sunline’s
sire Desert Sun, he is a half brother to group winners Salford Express
and Definite Article.
SNOW RIDGE: The warm favourite since Yeats’ defection. A good second
in the 2000 Guineas when beaten just over a length, he was a top
class two year old winning the Royal Lodge before running unplaced
in the Dewhurst Stakes. Despite being a son of top sprinter Indian
Ridge, his dam Snow Princess was a stayer classy enough to run second
in the Prix Royal Oak and is a daughter of stamina influence, Ela-Mana-Mou.
Frankie Dettori looks for his first Derby success on Godolphin’s
colt.
SELECTION
1 Percussionist
2 Snow Ridge
3 North Light