There
is less than three months until the world's premier Classic, the Investec
Derby, and the countdown gets underway today with the announcement of the 111
three-year-olds going forward following this week's scratchings stage.
The
234th running of the Investec Derby, the most valuable race staged in Britain
with a prize fund of £1.325 million, takes place at Epsom Downs on Saturday,
June 1 and a fantastic renewal looks assured.
Those
remaining in the race were all entered as yearlings in December, 2011. There is
a second £8,000 entry stage on Tuesday, April 9 and a final £75,000
supplementary entry stage five days before the great race on May 27.
Ireland's
champion trainer Aidan O'Brien has his customary strong hand with 35 entries
looking to add to the success of the brilliant Camelot in 2012.
Kingsbarns, like
Camelot the winner of the Group One Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster as a
two-year-old, is among the powerful O'Brien entry and is currently 4/1
favourite with bookmaker Coral.
The
highly-touted Mars, runaway winner of a Dundalk maiden on his only start
in July, is another O'Brien entry (priced at 10/1), along with Group One
Keeneland Phoenix Stakes scorer Pedro The Great, Group Two Juddmonte
Beresford Stakes winner Battle Of Marengo and The United States,
successful in a Curragh maiden on his only outing.
While
O'Brien has won the Investec Derby three times (he was also successful with
Galileo - sire of Kingsbarns - in 2001 and High Chaparral in 2002), three-time
Champion British Flat trainer Richard Hannon has not yet made a big impact in
the Epsom Classic during a career spanning over 40 years.
But
Hannon is hoping that the unbeaten Toronado, winner of three races last
year culminating in the Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster in September,
may be able to put that record straight on June 1.
"We
will be looking at the Investec Derby for Toronado after he has run in one of
the Guineas, but we have not decided which one he will go for at the
moment," said Richard Hannon junior, assistant to his father.
"He
is in great form and he has done very well over the winter so we are very
pleased with him - we always thought he would make a lovely
three-year-old."
Hannon
senior has had nine runners in the Derby, the first of them in 1973 and his
best placing so far has been sixth with Gran Alba in 1989. Toronado is priced
at 14/1 by Coral to improve on that record.
Richard
Hannon junior continued: "We have always liked him from the time he went
and won his maiden at Newbury and he continued to improve all year.
"In
a couple of races last year, they did not go very fast early and he probably
did not look as good as he could have done.
"It's
exciting for the team as we have not had many Derby runners and we are looking
forward to it."
Sir
Alex Ferguson is part of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's Wavertree syndicate
that owns 12/1 chance Telescope, who was saddled by Sir Michael Stoute to
win a Newmarket maiden impressively in September, while the Manchester United
manager is also one of the owners of The Welsh Wizard, trained by
Charlie Hills, who finished runner-up in a Wolverhampton maiden last week on
his only start.
Newmarket
trainer Sir Henry Cecil, successful in the Derby four times, has three entries,
including Lingfield maiden winner Mighty Yar.
There
are 16 split between Godolphin's two trainers, Mahmood Al Zarooni (11) and
Saeed bin Suroor (5), including Chesham Stakes winner and Champagne Stakes
third Tha'ir with the latter.
The
Wildenstein family have recently returned to ownership in Britain and their
Investec Derby entries include Parker Ridge, a half-brother to Peintre
Celebre, among an unraced trio based with Newmarket-based Luca Cumani, who has
twice sent out winner of the Epsom Downs Classic.
There
are 12 French-trained entries (compared to six at this stage 12 months ago) and
many have still to show their full potential.
The Aga
Khan's Baradari, trained in Pau by Jean-Claude Rouget, scored at
Toulouse in February.
Andre
Fabre, successful with Pour Moi in the 2011 Investec Derby, trains Ocovango who
won a Saint-Cloud maiden on his debut in November.
Adding
to the international theme, there are two entries from Germany, the Andreas
Wohler-trained Saint And Sinner and Superplex, based at Michael
Figge's Munich stable.
Eye-catching
Irish-based entries away from the O'Brien contingent include the Jim
Bolger-trained Trading Leather, winner of the Group Three Autumn Stakes
at Newmarket in October.
Andrew
Cooper, Head of Racing and Clerk of the Course at Epsom Downs
Racecourse, commented: "Camelot continued a run of outstanding recent
winners of the Investec Derby last year and the 2013 renewal is already
promising to produce a field worthy of the richest race run in Britain.
"Proven
Group performers remain engaged along with any number of less-exposed well-bred
three-year-olds and we look forward to the Investec Derby picture clarifying
over the coming weeks as the countdown to June 1 continues."
NOTES
TO EDITORS:
Investec
is an international specialist bank and asset manager that provides a diverse
range of financial products and services to a select client base. The group was
established in 1974 and has core activities in the UK, South Africa and
Australia.
Investec
focuses on delivering distinctive profitable solutions for its clients in three
core areas, namely Specialist Banking, Wealth & Investment and Asset
Management.
Investec
sponsors English Test Cricket, the Investec Derby Festival, the England &
GB Women's Hockey team, the South African Women's Hockey team, Tottenham
Hotspur in cup competitions, the Investec Tri Nations Rugby, Investec Super
Rugby in New Zealand and British golfer Kelly Tidy.
For
further information please contact:
Emma
Rickett
+44(0)
207 597 4442
SIX TO
WATCH
KINGSBARNS
(IRE)
b c Galileo (IRE) -
Beltisaal (FR) (Belmez (USA))
Form: 11-
Owner: Sue Magnier, Michael
Tabor & Derrick Smith
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien IRE
Breeder: Ann Marie O'Brien
Kingsbarns is a
half-brother to two stakes performers and made an impressive winning debut when
landing a mile maiden at Navan by seven lengths on October 10. The manner of
his success prompted connections to supplement him for the Racing Post Trophy
at Doncaster 17 days later. He was the subject of a gamble in the run-up to the
Group One mile contest and rewarded his backers with a comfortable length and
three quarters victory over Van Der Neer. That display propelled him to the top
of the Investec Derby betting and he could bid to become the fifth horse this
century to complete the Racing Post Trophy and Investec Derby double following
High Chaparral, also trained by O'Brien, Motivator, Authorized and stablemate
Camelot last year.
MARS
(IRE)
b c Galileo (IRE) -
Massarra (Danehill (USA))
Form: (1)-
Owner: Michael Tabor, Derrick
Smith & Sue Magnier
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Breeder: Massarra Syndicate
Mars is a half-brother
to Group One winner Nayarra and is from the family of French Oaks heroine
Rafha. The son of Galileo was already as short as 12/1 favourite for the
Investec Derby before he made his debut over seven furlongs on Polytrack at
Dundalk in July, such was his reputation, and he did not disappoint. After
being sent to the front by Joseph O'Brien, he was briefly joined two furlongs
out before forging clear for an easy four and three-quarter length success.
OCOVANGO
br c Monsun (GER) -
Crystal Maze (Gone West (USA))
Form: 1-
Owner: Prince A A Faisal
Trainer: Andre Fabre
Breeder: Watership Down Stud
Ocovango is by leading
middle-distance sire Monsun and impressed on his debut over a mile at
Saint-Cloud on November 1. He made all the running under Pierre-Charles Boudot
and stayed on strongly in the testing ground to score decisively by two and a
half lengths.
PARKER
RIDGE (FR)
ch c Green Tune (USA) -
Peinture Bleue (USA) (Alydar (USA))
Form: Unraced
Owner: Ecurie Wildenstein
Trainer: Luca Cumani
Breeder: Dayton Investments Ltd
Parker Ridge is one of a
group of three-year-olds owned by the Ecurie Wildenstein in training with dual
Derby-winning handler Luca Cumani at Newmarket. A son of top-class French miler
and sire Green Tune, he is a half-brother to six stakes performers including
outstanding 1997 horse of the year Peintre Celebre, who won the Prix du Jockey
Club and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in devastating fashion.
TELESCOPE
(IRE)
b c Galileo (IRE) -
Velouette (Darshaan)
Form: 21-
Owner: Highclere Thoroughbred
Racing - Wavertree
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
Breeder: Barronstown Stud
Telescope is from the
family of 2003 Dubai World Cup victor Moon Ballad and went into his debut at
Ascot on September 8 with a big reputation. He showed plenty of promise but
could not get the better of Snow King inside the final furlong and was denied
by a short-head. He created an excellent impression when stepped up to a mile
at Newmarket on September 27, pulling clear of his eight rivals for an easy two
and a quarter length success.
TORONADO
(IRE)
b c High Chaparral (IRE)
- Wana Doo (USA) (Grand Slam (USA))
Form: 111-
Owner: Carmichael Humber
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Breeder: Paul Nataf
Toronado, by 2002
Investec Derby hero High Chaparral, is from the family of Group One winner
Casamento and was purchased by Amanda Skiffington for 55,000 euros at France's
Arqana Sales in August, 2011. He made a winning debut over six and a half
furlongs at Newbury in June before a smooth two-length success in a
seven-furlong Listed event at Ascot in July. After a short break, he returned
in the Group Two Champagne Stakes over the same distance at Doncaster on
September 15, and made all the running to score by a half length from
Dundonnell.
THE
2013 INVESTEC DERBY
Class 1, Group 1,
£1,325,000 Total Prize Fund, 4.00pm, Epsom Downs, Saturday, June 1, 2013. For three-year-olds
only, entire colts & fillies, one mile, four furlongs and 10 yards. Entries
closed December 6, 2011 (442 entries). First scratchings deadline noon, March
5, 2013 (111 remain), £8,000 secondary entry stage noon, April 9, 2013,
second scratchings deadline noon, May 17, 2013, £75,000 supplementary entry
& five-day confirmation stage, noon, May 27, 2013, final declaration stage
10am, May 30, 2013. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to
and including the racing of Monday, March 4, 2013. May not include some
overseas form.
Form
Horse Owner Trainer
(5)- AGREEMENT
(IRE) Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
51- AMRALAH
(IRE) Prince A A Faisal Mick Channon
0333- ANOTHER
COCKTAIL Michael Kerr-Dineen Hughie Morrison
ARBELAN (FR)
H H Aga Khan Alain de Royer Dupre FR
114- ASHDAN
Khalid Abdulla John Gosden
26121- ASK DAD
Andrew Tinkler Richard Hannon
ATARAXIS (FR)
Niarchos Family Sir Henry Cecil
4- AU REVOIR
(IRE) Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
BALMORAL MILLS
(IRE) Ecurie Wildenstein Elie Lellouche FR
3-1 BARADARI
(IRE) H H Aga
Khan Jean Claude Rouget
FR
3111- BATTLE OF
MARENGO (IRE)Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
2- BRAVODINO
(USA) Niarchos Family Jonathan Pease FR
(1)162- CAP O'RUSHES
Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
4(1)(1)- CAT
O'MOUNTAIN (USA) Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
(4)- CHIEF
EXECUTIVE (IRE) East Wind Racing Ltd Jo Hughes
021310- COUNT OF
LIMONADE (IRE)Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
0- CYCLONE
Andrew Tinkler Richard Hannon
3- DALGIG Ken
Gundlach Jamie Osborne
5- DANCE KING Bjorn
Nielsen David Lanigan
6- DARE TO
ACHIEVE Bernard Kantor & Markus Jooste William Haggas
(4)- DEMONIC Khalid
Abdulla Sir Henry Cecil
DENOTE Mrs
E A Bass Paul Cole
DESERVING
HONOUR Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
ETERNAL RAY
(IRE) George Strawbridge Freddy Head FR
0- EVERGLADES
ISLAND (IRE)Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
34- EXCELLENT
RESULT (IRE)Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
120- EXCESS
KNOWLEDGE Khalid Abdulla John Gosden
13- EYE OF THE
STORM (IRE)Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
FEEL LIKE
DANCING Lady Bamford John Gosden
5(1)- FESTIVE CHEER
(FR) Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
120- FLYING THE
FLAG (IRE) Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
32- FORTIFY
(IRE) Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
1- FOUNDRY
(IRE) Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
GALEB WARRIOR
Tony Bloom William Haggas
15- GALILEO
ROCK (IRE) Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor David Wachman IRE
GENIUS BOY Godolphin
Mahmood Al Zarooni
GOLD MEDAL
(IRE) Julie Wood Richard Hannon
23(1)- GREATWOOD Highclere
Thoroughbred Racing - Archer Luca Cumani
GROUNDBREAKING
Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
(6)- HEIRLOOM
Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
41- HILLSTAR
Sir Evelyn de Rothschild Sir Michael Stoute
23- IMPROVISATION
(IRE) Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
2- INDIAN CHIEF
(IRE) Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
JAMMY GUEST
(IRE) John Guest Racing George Margarson
351- KINGDOM
(IRE) Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
11- KINGSBARNS
(IRE) Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
2134- KINGSTON
JAMAICA (IRE)Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
LAKE MICHIGAN
(IRE) Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
LAKE NOVA
(IRE) Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
41- LEADING
LIGHT (IRE) Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
23(2)132- LEITIR MOR
(IRE) Jackie Bolger Jim Bolger IRE
40- LLAREGYB
(IRE) Anne Coughlan David Elsworth
5(1)- LORD
PROVOST (IRE) Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
0(2)10- MAGICIAN
(IRE) Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
MANNDAWI (FR)
H H Aga Khan Alain de Royer
Dupre FR
(1)- MARS (IRE)
Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
(1)- MIGHTY YAR
(IRE) Tony Evans Sir Henry Cecil
001- MOMBASA Wis
Green Partners Ralph Beckett
1- MUTASHADED
(USA) Hamdan Al Maktoum Roger Varian
NELSON'S
VICTORY Victory Bloodstock Limited Jane Chapple-Hyam
416- NEVIS (IRE)
Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
NEW LOOK (IRE)
Sheikh Mohammed No current trainer
231- NICHOLS
CANYON Rachel Hood & Elaine Lawlor John Gosden
(4)(3)04(6)(4)- OCEAN
APPLAUSE Bill McLuskey John Ryan
1- OCOVANGO Prince
A A Faisal Andre Fabre FR
PARKER RIDGE
(FR) Wildenstein Stables Limited Luca Cumani
10150- PASAKA BOY RWH
Partnership Jonathan Portman
51515- PEDRO THE
GREAT (USA)Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
5(2)- PERSEPOLIS
(IRE) Highclere Thoroughbred Racing - Sloan Sir Michael Stoute
3- PIET
MONDRIAN Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
PLINTH (IRE) Anne
Marie O'Brien Aidan O'Brien IRE
5- POINT PIPER
(USA) Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
04(3)- PORTMONARCH
(IRE) Robert V LaPenta David Lanigan
QAHIR (IRE) H
H Sheikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Thani Freddy Head FR
13- RACE AND
STATUS (IRE) Jackie & George Smith Andrew Balding
35211- RESTRAINT OF
TRADE (IRE) Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
ROYAL FLAG Godolphin
Saeed bin Suroor
RULER OF THE
WORLD (IRE) Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
SAINT AND
SINNER (GER)Gestut Karlshof Andreas Wohler GER
SARDINIA (IRE)
Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
SASKATCHEWAN
Wildenstein Stables Limited Luca Cumani
SATWA STORY
Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
114241- SIR
PRANCEALOT (IRE) Andrew Tinkler Not in training
(1)- SIR WALTER
SCOTT (IRE)Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
SLEEPING GIANT
(GER) Wildenstein Stables Limited Luca Cumani
0- SMOKE SCREEN
Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
SPESSARTINE
(IRE) Edwin Phillips Robert Eddery
SUGAR TRAIN
Khalid Abdulla David Smaga FR
010- SUPERPLEX
(FR) Stall Eivissa Michael Figge GER
(2)20(1)-(1) SWING
EASY Mrs B B Mills, J Harley, T Jacobs Robert Mills
42- TABLEAUX
(USA) Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
(6)- TAKAATHUR
(USA) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
21- TARIKHI
(USA) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
TEKTITE
Niarchos Family Jonathan Pease FR
21- TELESCOPE
(IRE) Highclere Thoroughbred Racing -Wavertree Sir Michael Stoute
114230- THA'IR (IRE)
Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
6- THATCHMASTER
(USA) Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
1- THE UNITED
STATES (IRE)Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
3- THE VATICAN
(IRE) Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
(2) THE WELSH
WIZARD (IRE) John & Barbara Cotton, Sir Alex Ferguson, J Hanson Charlie
Hills
(2)- TINGHIR
(IRE) Bjorn Nielsen David Lanigan
111- TORONADO
(IRE) Carmichael Humber Richard Hannon
2115- TRADING
LEATHER (IRE) Jackie Bolger Jim Bolger IRE
410- TWILIGHT
ZONE (IRE) Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
23- VAYAKHAN
(FR) H H Aga Khan
Alain de Royer Dupre FR
VICTORY SONG
(IRE) Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
WAVER (IRE) Anne
Marie O'Brien Aidan O'Brien IRE
WINGED FOOT
(IRE) Ecurie Wildenstein Elie Lellouche FR
40- WINTERLUDE
(IRE) Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
0- WOODSTOCK
(IRE) Julie Wood Richard Hannon
64- ZAIN EAGLE Asaad
Al Banwan Gerard Butler
111 entries after March
5 scratchings deadline
38 Irish-trained
12 French-trained
2 German-trained
BREAKDOWN
OF ENTRIES BY TRAINER WITH PAST SUCCESSES IN THE INVESTEC DERBY
35 entries
Aidan O'Brien IRE (2001
Galileo, 2002 High Chaparral, 2012 Camelot)
11 entries
Mahmood Al Zarooni
5 entries
Richard Hannon
Saeed bin Suroor (1995
Lammtarra)
4 entries
Luca Cumani (1988
Kahyasi, 1998 High-Rise)
John Gosden (1997
Benny The Dip)
3 entries
Sir Henry Cecil(1985
Slip Anchor, 1987 Reference Point, 1993 Commander in Chief, 1999 Oath)
Alain de Royer Dupre FR
David Lanigan
Sir Michael Stoute (1981
Shergar, 1986 Shahrastani, 2003 Kris Kin, 2004 North Light, 2010 Workforce)
2 entries
Jim Bolger IRE (2008
New Approach)
William Haggas (1996
Shaamit)
Freddy Head FR
Elie Lellouce FR
Jonathan Pease FR
1 entry
Andrew Balding
Ralph Beckett
Gerard Butler
Mick Channon
Jane Chapple-Hyam
Paul Cole (1991
Generous)
Robert Eddery
David Elsworth
Andre Fabre FR (2011
Pour Moi)
Michael Figge GER
Charlie Hills
Jo Hughes
George Margarson
Robert Mills
Hughie Morrison
Jamie Osborne
Jonathan Portman
Jean-Claude Rouget FR
John Ryan
David Smaga FR
Roger Varian
David Wachman IRE
Andreas Wohler GER
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