Frankie Dettori will ride his last Epsom Derby on June 3, partnering ARREST.
From William Hill news blog, here are three top contenders in the Epsom Derby to consider:
“Despite an anti-climactic run in the 2000 Guineas earlier this year, for which he was 13/8 favourite, Auguste Rodin is still considered to be the best of the field for the Derby and is at the top of the market once again. Trained by Aidan O’Brien, who has trained eight Derby winners so far in his illustrious career, the Deep Impact colt’s form prior to the 2000 Guineas had been most impressive. As a two-year-old, Auguste Rodin jumped easily from a maiden to a Group 2 to a Group 1, improving with each run, and was thus expected to do the same at Newmarket in May this year. Reportedly, the colt suffered interference early on in the race, which affected his result. Similarly to stablemate Savethelastdance in the Oaks, he is reasonably unproven on better going and may find his rivals more competitive on this surface.
Coming to Epsom with the same number of victories as Auguste Rodin is Charlie Appleby’s Military Order. The Frankel colt, who is a full brother to 2021 Derby winner Adayar, won his second start as a two-year-old and has followed up that performance with a further two wins this year at Newbury and Lingfield. Although he has, so far, run in lower grade races than the favourite, Military Order has won on good ground, which Auguste Rodin has not. At this stage of his career, he has racked up more wins than Adayar, having run in similar contests, so could feasibly turn out to be the more talented of the brothers. With both being trained by Charlie Appleby, the family is well known by the trainer which may play to both his and Military Order’s benefit.
Sir Michael Stoute, who was the trainer of last year’s Derby winner, Desert Crown, sends Passenger to this year’s renewal. Sir Michael has been responsible for six Derby winners since 1981 and knows a Derby horse when he sees one. Passenger, who is still fairly unexposed and comes to Epsom having only first seen a racecourse in April this year, won his debut by three lengths and, the following month, finished a good joint third to The Foxes in the Dante at York. He is a colt that we know goes well on good and firmer ground so, if he can get a nice clear run this time, he could prove to be very dangerous to the top two favourites.”
Betfred Derby (Group 1) 1m 4f 6y
1.30pm, Epsom Downs, Saturday 3rd June
Total Prize Fund £1,561,950
1 Adelaide River (IRE) Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg Aidan O’Brien Ireland DRAWN 14
2 Arrest (IRE) Juddmonte John & Thady Gosden Frankie Dettori DRAWN 13
3 Artistic Star (IRE) Mr J. C. Smith Ralph Beckett Rob Hornby DRAWN 8
4 Auguste Rodin (IRE) M Tabor/D Smith/Mrs J Magnier/Westerberg Aidan O’Brien Ireland DRAWN 10
5 Dear My Friend Middleham Park Racing XXV & Michael Lai Charlie Johnston Andrea Atzeni DRAWN 1
6 Dubai Mile (IRE) Ahmad Al Shaikh Charlie Johnston Daniel Muscutt DRAWN 5
7 King of Steel (USA) Amo Racing Limited Roger Varian Kevin Stott DRAWN 4
8 Military Order (IRE) Godolphin Charlie Appleby William Buick DRAWN 9
9 Passenger (USA) Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd Sir Michael Stoute Richard Kingscote DRAWN 7
10 San Antonio (IRE) M Tabor/D Smith/Mrs J Magnier/Westerberg Aidan O’Brien Ireland DRAWN 12
11 Sprewell (IRE) Mr Mohamed Khalid Mohamed Abdulrahim Mrs J. Harrington Ireland Shane Foley DRAWN 6
12 The Foxes (IRE) King Power Racing Co Ltd Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy DRAWN 3
13 Waipiro (IRE) Mr P. K. Siu Ed Walker Tom Marquand DRAWN 11
14 White Birch Mrs C. C. Regalado-Gonzalez John Joseph Murphy Ireland Colin Keane DRAWN 2
BETFRED OAKS-G1, £548,350, 3yo, f, 12f 6y
Friday, Epsom Downs, Britain, post time: 11:30 EST
SC HORSE SIRE OWNER TRAINER JOCKEY WT
1 Be Happy (Ire) Camelot (GB) M Tabor, D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, Westerberg Aidan O’Brien Seamus Heffernan 128
2 Bright Diamond (Ire) El Kabeir Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum Karl Burke Clifford Lee 128
3 Caernarfon (GB) Cityscape (GB) Hunscote Stud, P Humphreys & J Sweeney Jack Channon Connor Beasley 128
4 Eternal Hope (Ire) Teofilo (Ire) Godolphin Charlie Appleby William Buick 128
5 Heartache Tonight (Fr) Recorder (GB) Chris Wright & Andy Macdonald David Menuisier Cristian Demuro 128
6 Maman Joon (Ire) Sea The Stars (Ire) Amo Racing Ltd Richard Hannon Kevin Stott 128
7 Red Riding Hood (Ire) Justify D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, Westerberg Aidan O’Brien Wayne Lordan 128
8 Running Lion (GB) Roaring Lion D P Howden John & Thady Gosden Oisin Murphy 128
9 Savethelastdance (Ire) Galileo (Ire) Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith, Westerberg Aidan O’Brien Ryan Moore 128
10 Sea Of Roses (GB) Sea The Moon (Ger) Weldspec Glasgow Ltd Andrew Balding Rob Hornby 128
11 Soul Sister (Ire) Frankel (GB) Lady Bamford John & Thady Gosden Frankie Dettori 128
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