The unbeaten Dawn
Approach features in 24 colts going forward in the 2013 Investec Derby, the
premier Classic run at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 1.
Dawn Approach has
already annexed the first Classic of the season, the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at
Newmarket and will be attempting to become the 38th horse to win both Classics.
A son of the 2008
Investec Derby hero New Approach, Dawn Approach is the evens favourite with
Coral, official betting partner of the 2013 Investec Derby Festival. His
trainer Jim Bolger could also be represented by Trading Leather, who was
runner-up in yesterday's Group Two Betfred Dante Stakes at York. Bolger's third
leading three-year-old, Loch Garman, is set to contest the Irish Derby.
Speaking at York
yesterday, the Irish handler said: "I am thrilled with my three top
horses, Dawn Approach, Trading Leather and Loch Garman.
"We know the one
that is better (Dawn Approach) - he is well. It is a toss-up between the other
two.
"I think the only
trials that matter were run in Coolcullen (on his stable's gallops). I'm
ecstatic with them.
"With due respect
for the winners of the Leopardstown trial and the trial here (York), we would be
expecting to show serious improvement from a fitness point of view (Loch Garman
and Trading Leather respectively)."
Ireland's champion
trainer Aidan O'Brien, seeking his fourth Investec Derby victory following
Galileo (2001), High Chaparral (2002) and Camelot (2012), has been in red-hot
form during the trials season and has seven contenders remaining.
These include Ruler
Of The World and Magician, who were successful in the Chester Vase
and Dee Stakes respectively at Chester last week, as well as Lingfield Derby
Trial scorer Nevis and Battle Of Marengo, who landed the
Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown. O'Brien could also be represented
by Mars, a staying-on sixth behind Dawn Approach at Newmarket, Festive
Cheer and Flying The Flag.
Further Irish interest
could be provided by First Cornerstone (Andy Oliver), Galileo Rock (David
Wachman) and Zand (John Oxx).
Andre Fabre was
responsible for the last French-trained winner of the Investec Derby, Pour Moi
in 2011, and is set to be represented this year by Ocovango. The Monsun
colt is unbeaten in three starts at Saint-Cloud and was last seen out when
taking the Group Two Prix Greffulhe on May 4, the same trial Pour Moi landed
before his Epsom Downs victory. Ocovango could renew rivalry with the Jonathan
Pease-trained Bravodino, who was half a length back in second in the
Prix Greffulhe, while fellow French trainer Freddy Head also has two contenders
going forward, Eternal Ray and Qahir.
Further interest from
the Continent is provided by German contender Superplex (Michael Figge),
fourth behind Ocovango in the Prix Greffhule.
The last
Northern-trained winner of the Derby was Dante in 1945 but there is a live
contender from Yorkshire this year in the Elaine Burke-trained Libertarian,
a shock 33/1 winner of the Dante Stakes.
The Sir Michael
Stoute-trained Telescope, who was well-supported in the ante-post market
but was forced to miss the Dante Stakes due to a late setback, remains engaged
and could head straight to Epsom Downs following a racecourse gallop.
Mirsaale is the one horse in the
field with proven form at Epsom Downs, having taken the Investec Derby Trial on
April 24 and he is set to be a first runner in the Investec Derby for
Newmarket-based trainer James Tate.
Completing the potential
line-up are Jammy Guest (George Margarson) who lines up in the Listed
Fairway Stakes at Newmarket tomorrow, Gold Medal (Richard Hannon), Ocean
Applause (John Ryan) and Tinghir (David Lanigan).
The 2013 Investec Derby
will have a prize fund of at least £1.325 million. There is one final chance
for connections to add a horse to the field at the £75,000 supplementary entry
stage on Monday, May 27. Exciting German challenger Chopin, a 10/1 chance with
Coral, is expected to be supplemented.
Latest betting from
Coral, official betting partner: Evs Dawn Approach, 9/2 Battle Of Marengo, 8/1 Ocovango, Ruler Of
The World, Telescope, 10/1 Mars, Chopin (needs supplementing), 16/1
Libertarian, 20/1 Magician, Zand, 25/1 Bravodino, Nevis, Trading Leather, 33/1
Festive Cheer, Flying The Flag, Galileo Rock, Qahir, 40/1 Eternal Ray, First
Cornerstone, 50/1 Mirsaale, Tinghir, 66/1 Gold Medal, 100/1 Jammy Guest,
Superplex, 500/1 Ocean Applause
Secret
Gesture and Liber Nauticus among 14 remaining in Investec Oaks
Secret Gesture and Liber Nauticus,
who both scored eye-catching victories in their respective trials, head the 14
fillies remaining in the Investec Oaks. The mile and a half fillies' Classic
takes place at Epsom Downs on Investec Ladies' Day, Friday, May 31, with a
record prize fund of £400,000.
Trained by Ralph
Beckett, successful in the 2008 Investec Oaks with Look Here, Secret Gesture
could not have been more impressive as she sauntered to a 10-length victory
over Miss You Too in the Listed Oaks Trial at Lingfield Park on May 11.
She is the 11/4 joint-favourite with Coral. Beckett has also left in Talent,
who was victorious last time out in the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket
on May 5.
The Sir Michael
Stoute-trained Liber Nauticus captured the Group Three Tattersalls Musidora
Stakes at York on Wednesday on only her second racecourse appearance and looks
open to any amount of improvement.
Aidan O'Brien, who
captured a fourth Investec Oaks with Was in 2012, has a trio of fillies going
forward headed by QIPCO 1000 Guineas third Moth (the other 11/4 joint
favourite with Coral), who could be joined by Snow Queen, a staying-on
fifth at Newmarket and Cork maiden winner Say.
The other Irish-trained
entry going forward is Dubaya (Andy Oliver) while French hopes are
pinned on Planete Bleue (Francis-Henri Graffard), who carries the famous
silks of the Wildenstein family.
Newmarket handler
Michael Bell took the 2009 Investec Oaks with Sariska and has two remaining
entries in 2013 - Madame Defarge, third behind Talent at Newmarket, and The
Lark, who is out of a half-sister to Sariska and was third in the Listed
Swettenham Stud Fillies' Trial Stakes at Newbury today.
Also among today's
acceptors are Listed Cheshire Oaks runner-up Gertrude Versed (John
Gosden), Masarah (Clive Brittain) and Roz (Harry Dunlop),
who was runner-up in the Group One Shadwell Fillies' Mile at Newmarket last
season.
There is a £30,000
supplementary entry stage for the Investec Oaks on Saturday, May 25, when
Listed Cheshire Oaks winner Banoffee is expected to be added to the field.
Latest betting from
Coral, official betting partner: 11/4 Moth, Secret Gesture, 3/1 Liber Nauticus, 9/1 Banoffee (needs
supplementing), 12/1 Say, 14/1 Talent, 16/1 Snow Queen, 20/1 Madame Defarge,
33/1 Gertrude Versed, Planete Bleue, 40/1 Masarah, 50/1 Roz, The Lark, 66/1
Miss You Too, 100/1 Dubaya
ROAD TO THE DERBY
For more information visit the Road to the Derby micro-site (www.theroadtothederby.co.uk) which features interactive areas for users to chat, discuss and debate
the latest news and views on the Investec Derby Festival and the Derby Trials.
In addition up to date announcements and video footage will be available,
including footage of the key Derby Trials. The site aims to deliver a narrative
for the Investec Derby Festival throughout the Flat season and follow the two
year old activity leading up to the following year's renewal of the Greatest
Flat Race in the World.
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 remained), £8,000
secondary entry stage noon, April 9, 2013 (17 second entries received), second
scratchings deadline noon, May 17, 2013 (24 remain), £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 Thursday, May 16, 2013. May
not include some overseas form.
Form
Horse Owner Trainer
3111-11
BATTLE OF MARENGO (IRE) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier
Aidan O'Brien IRE
2-12
BRAVODINO (USA) Niarchos Family Jonathan Pease FR
111111-1
DAWN APPROACH (IRE) Godolphin Jim Bolger IRE
ETERNAL
RAY (IRE) George Strawbridge Freddy Head FR
5(1)-3 FESTIVE
CHEER (FR) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
3114-
FIRST CORNERSTONE Team Valor International LLC Andy Oliver
IRE
120-0
FLYING THE FLAG (IRE) John Magnier, Derrick Smith & Michael Tabor
Aidan O'Brien IRE
15-3
GALILEO ROCK (IRE) Michael O'Flynn David Wachman IRE
(2)
GOLD MEDAL (IRE) Julie Wood Richard Hannon
51
JAMMY GUEST (IRE) John Guest Racing George Margarson
11
LIBERTARIAN Hubert Strecker Elaine Burke
0(2)10-1
MAGICIAN (IRE) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier
Aidan O'Brien IRE
(1)-6
MARS (IRE) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier
Aidan O'Brien IRE
5130-1 MIRSAALE
Saif Ali James Tate
416-1
NEVIS (IRE) John Magnier, Derrick Smith & Michael Tabor Aidan
O'Brien IRE
4(6)(4)-0(0)0
OCEAN APPLAUSE Bill McLuskey John Ryan
1-11
OCOVANGO Prince A A Faisal Andre Fabre FR
QAHIR
(IRE) H H Sheikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Thani Freddy Head
FR
11
RULER OF THE WORLD (IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
Aidan O'Brien IRE
010-14 SUPERPLEX
(FR) Stall Eivissa Michael Figge GER
21-
TELESCOPE (IRE) Highclere Thoroughbred Racing-Wavertree Sir
Michael Stoute
(2)-5
TINGHIR (IRE) Bjorn Nielsen David Lanigan
2115-2 TRADING
LEATHER (IRE) Jackie Bolger Jim Bolger IRE
21-
ZAND (IRE) H H Aga Khan John Oxx IRE
24
entries go forward
12
Irish-trained
4
French-trained
1
German-trained
THE
FOLLOWING ENTRIES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED:
ACHTUNG,
AGREEMENT (IRE), AL WAAB (IRE), AMRALAH (IRE), ANOTHER COCKTAIL, ARBELAN (FR),
ASHDAN, ATARAXIS (FR), AU REVOIR (IRE), BARADARI (IRE), BATTALION (IRE), CAP
O'RUSHES, CAT O'MOUNTAIN (USA), CHIEF EXECUTIVE (IRE), COUNT OF LIMONADE (IRE),
DALGIG, DANCE KING, DARE TO ACHIEVE, DEMONIC, DENOTE, DESERVING HONOUR,
EVERGLADES ISLAND (IRE), EXCELLENT RESULT (IRE), EXCESS KNOWLEDGE, EYE OF THE
STORM (IRE), FANTASTIC MOON, FEEL LIKE DANCING, FORTIFY (IRE), FOUNDRY (IRE),
GALEB WARRIOR, GENIUS BOY, GLORY AWAITS (IRE), GREATWOOD, GROUNDBREAKING,
HEIRLOOM, HILLSTAR, IMPROVISATION (IRE), INDIAN CHIEF (IRE), KING GEORGE RIVER
(IRE), KINGDOM (IRE), KINGSBARNS (IRE), KINGSTON JAMAICA (IRE), LAKE MICHIGAN
(IRE), LAKE NOVA (IRE), LEADING LIGHT (IRE), LEITIR MOR (IRE), LLAREGYB (IRE),
LORD PROVOST (IRE), MANNDAWI (FR), MIGHTY YAR (IRE), MOMBASA, MORPHEUS,
MUTASHADED (USA), NELSON'S VICTORY, NEW LOOK (IRE), NICHOLS CANYON, PARKER
RIDGE (FR), PASAKA BOY, PEDRO THE GREAT (USA), PERSEPOLIS (IRE),PIET MONDRIAN,
PLINTH (IRE), POINT PIPER (USA), PORTMONARCH (IRE), RACE AND STATUS (IRE),
RESTRAINT OF TRADE (IRE), ROYAL FLAG, SAINT AND SINNER (GER), SARDINIA (IRE),
SASKATCHEWAN, SATWA STORY, SECRET NUMBER, SIR WALTER SCOTT (IRE), SLEEPING
GIANT (GER), SMOKE SCREEN, SQUIRE OSBALDESTON (IRE), STEELER (IRE), SUGAR
TRAIN, SWING EASY, TABLEAUX (USA), TAKAATHUR (USA), TARIKHI (USA), TEKTITE,
THA'IR (IRE), THATCHMASTER (USA), THE UNITED STATES (IRE) , THE VATICAN (IRE),
THE WELSH WIZARD (IRE), TORONADO (IRE), TWILIGHT ZONE (IRE), VAN DER NEER,
VAYAKHAN (FR), VICTORY SONG (IRE), WAVER (IRE), WILLIE THE WHIPPER, WINTERLUDE
(IRE), WOODSTOCK (IRE), ZAIN EAGLE
THE
2013 INVESTEC OAKS
Class
1, Group 1, £400,000 Total Prize Fund. Epsom Downs, Friday, May 31,
2013. For three-year-old fillies only. One mile & four furlongs. Weights:
9st each. Entries closed March 12, entries revealed March 14 (67 entries).
Scratchings deadline noon, May 17 (14 remain). £30,000 supplementary
entry stage and six-day confirmation stage May 25, final declaration stage
10.00am, May 29. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and include the racing up
to and including Friday, May 16. May not include some overseas form.
Form
Horse Owner Trainer
16- 6
DUBAYA Lady O'Reilly
AndyOliver IRE
(5)(3)-(2)(1)2
GERTRUDE VERSED Rachel Hood John Gosden
1-1
LIBER NAUTICUS (IRE) Ballymacoll
Stud Sir Michael Stoute
1-3
MADAME DEFARGE (IRE) Bill Gredley Michael Bell
540-(5)10
MASARAH (IRE) Mohammed Al Nabouda Clive Brittain
24423-2
MISS YOU TOO Andrew Whitlock David
Simcock
53-13 MOTH
(IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan
O'Brien IRE
21
PLANETE BLEUE (IRE) Ecurie
Wildenstein Francis-Henri Graffard FR
0(1)12-0
ROZ Mary-Anne Parker Harry
Dunlop
6-21 SAY
(IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien
IRE
21-1
SECRET GESTURE Newsells Park Stud Ralph Beckett
1021-35
SNOW QUEEN (IRE) Diane Nagle/Sue Magnier Aidan
O'Brien IRE
3(1)-1
TALENT J L Rowsell & Mark Dixon Ralph
Beckett
41-
THE LARK Lady Bamford Michael Bell
14
entries go foward
4
Irish-trained
1
French-trained
THE
FOLLOWING HORSES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED:
A
STAR IS BORN (IRE),ALTA LILEA (IRE), AMARANTINE (FR), AULD ALLIANCE (IRE),
BONANZA CREEK (IRE), CERTIFY (USA), COCKTAIL QUEEN (IRE), COOLIBAH (IRE),
CUSHION, DISCERNABLE, ENAITCH (IRE), EXOTIC (IRE), FILIA REGINA,GREAT TIMING
(USA), HALF MOON (IRE), HEROINE REQUIRED (FR), HINT OF A TINT (IRE), HOLD
ON TIGHT (IRE), HOT SNAP, INDIGO LADY, JUST THE JUDGE (IRE), LADY
NOUF, LANANSAAK (IRE), LOVELY PASS (IRE), MAGIC OF REALITY (FR), MAGICAL
DREAM (IRE), MUSIC CHART (USA), MUTHMERA (USA), NICKELS AND DIMES (IRE), NUR
JAHAN (IRE), ORPHA, OUR OBSESSION (IRE), PERMEATE, PHIZ (GER),
POWER OF LIGHT (IRE), PREMIUM, PURR ALONG, RASMEYAA (IRE), REGAL SILK,
SCINTILLULA (IRE), SHALWA, SHURUQ (USA), SINGERSONGWRITER, SOHO DANCER, STORM
(IRE), TARANA (IRE), THE GOLD CHEONGSAM (IRE), THOUGH (IRE), VANITY
RULES, VELVET RIBBON (IRE), VENUS DE MILO (IRE), VICKSBURG, WOODLAND ARIA
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