Five Horses Added to Epsom Derby

Press Release:

FIVE SECOND ENTRIES FOR 2012 INVESTEC DERBY​

- CLASSIC IS “ON RADAR” FOR AKEED MOFEED SAYS OXX

- LANIGAN KEEPS “OPTIONS OPEN” WITH MAIN SEQUENCE​

Details are revealed today of the five horses entered at the second entry stage for the 2012 Investec Derby, run over a mile and a half at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 2. The Group One Classic offers a prize fund of at least £1.25 million.

The second entry stage provides connections who did not enter at the initial yearling stage the opportunity to add horses to the premier Classic at a cost of £8,000. The third and final opportunity to enter the Investec Derby comes at the supplementary entry stage on Monday, May 28, when the fee rises to £75,000. For the first time in 2012, the winner of the £50,000 Investec Derby Trial (run at the Investec Spring Meeting at Epsom Downs on Wednesday, April 25) will receive a wild-card entry into the Investec Derby, if not already holding an entry.

Irish trainer John Oxx boasts an enviable record in the Investec Derby. The three runners he has saddled in the Classic have resulted in two victories (Sinndar in 2000 and Sea The Stars in 2009), as well as a third (Alamshar in 2003).

The County Kildare trainer has six entries currently engaged in this year’s renewal including Akeed Mofeed, who was added at this week’s second entry stage. Owned by Jaber Abdullah, the Dubawi colt ran three times in Ireland last season which included a victory over seven furlongs in a Leopardstown maiden as well as a close second in the Group Two Beresford Stakes over a mile at the Curragh. Akeed Mofeed is 12/1 second favourite for the Investec Derby with William Hill, Official Betting Partner of the 2012 Investec Derby Festival.

Oxx revealed: “The Investec Derby is certainly on Akeed Mofeed’s radar.

“It’s early days yet - we’ll have to get him on the track first and go from there - but it had always been the plan to put him in at the second entry stage.

“Everything has gone well with him over the winter. He has done particularly well and everything continued well right through the spring time. He has been working away and is not too far from his first run.

“He has always worked well, he’s always looked a nice horse and he has shown us plenty at home so when he raced we expected him to do well.

“We haven’t come to a decision about where he is going to start this season, but we would be leaning towards a 2000 Guineas trial. We want to start him off at a mile and give him a chance at that trip first and then we’ll think about the QIPCO 2000 Guineas. He has shown a bit of speed all right, but we will have to put it to the racecourse test.

“He also has the Derrinstown Derby Trial as an option here at Leopardstown which would be a good follow up from the 2000 Guineas trial. You never know if they will get the Investec Derby trip until the day as there is always a doubt until they are put to the test.”

David Lanigan, training from a new yard in Lambourn this season, has yet to have a runner in the Investec Derby but just doubled his entries to two in 2012 including the unbeaten Main Sequence, who was entered at the second entry stage. Owned by the Niarchos Family, the Aldebaran colt caused a 50/1 shock when winning on debut at Yarmouth over a mile in September before following up with an impressive victory in a nine-furlong nursery at Newmarket the following month. He is currently 50/1 with William Hill.

Lanigan commented: “We have entered Main Sequence in the Investec Derby just to keep our options open. He has done well from two to three, he has strengthened up and done physically well over the winter. The Niarchos family are keen to have him in there as an option, but we will just have to see how we get on.

“He is a horse I have always liked but, to be brutally honest, on his homework I thought he would run a nice race on debut and finish in the first four and he went and won it. He does his homework all right, but he is not a horse who is exuberant in his work - he is just workmanlike at home.

“Obviously, on his second start you could take a lot more out of that than anything else and that is why we wanted to get him out again. We were on a fact-finding mission that day and we wanted to see where we were with him. It was a competitive nursery, so he couldn’t have done it any easier than he did it that day. He will certainly get further and we will just see how he comes on, but it was certainly encouraging to see him win like that, especially with the horses in behind him as it gives you a line to go on.


“The handicapper put him on a mark of 89 after that - we will just have to see how he is and where we go. The horse will tell us when he is ready and we will try and get him out within the next three weeks. I will sit down with the owners and discuss a plan for him depending on what races there are to go for.

“On his homework and the way he won last year - he was going away at the end - you would think a mile and a quarter would have suited him then. There is plenty of stamina on the dam’s side and to be honest my own gut feeling is that he won’t have any problem getting the mile and a half this year.”

Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni is responsible for two of the second entries - Mandaean and Swedish Sailor. The duo are both 25/1 chances with William Hill. Mandaean won both his starts in France last year, when he was trained by Andre Fabre, culminating with a victory in the final Group One race of the European season, the Criterium de Saint-Cloud in November. Swedish Sailor was an impressive victor on his only start, taking a mile in maiden at Yarmouth.

The fifth second entry is the Aga Khan-owned Kesampour. Trained in France by Mikel Delzangles, the King’s Best colt is unbeaten in three starts, most recently registering a comfortable victory in an 11-furlong Listed contest at Saint-Cloud on April 1. He is a 25/1 chance with William Hill, Official Betting Partner of the 2012 Investec Derby Festival.

The next scratchings deadline for the Investec Derby is on Friday, May 18, at the conclusion of the trials’ season.

Investec Derby - William Hill bet: 9/4 Camelot, 12/1 Akeed Mofeed, 16/1 Born To Sea, Parish Hall, Top Offer, 20/1 Encke, 25/1 Astrology, Bonfire, David Livingston, Fencing, Imperial Monarch, Kesampour, Mandaean, Mighty Ambition, Swedish Sailor, 33/1 Call To Battle, Ektihaam, Furner’s Green, Jungle Beat, Noble Mission, Wrotham Heath, 40/1 Continuum, 50/1 Commitment, Main Sequence, Rougemont (EW 1/4 1,2,3)

2000 Guineas & Derby double: Camelot 7/1

William Hill spokeswoman Lucy Rhodes said: “Camelot was a short-priced favourite after his impressive display in the Racing Post Trophy and, with his price continuing to contract throughout the winter months, punters clearly don’t seem concerned about another potential St Nicholas Abbey situation.

“However, there is a long way to go, with numerous key trials en-route to Investec Derby glory, where some exciting challengers will undoubtedly spring to prominence.”

 

Profiles:

THE FIVE SECOND ENTRIES FOR THE 2012 INVESTEC DERBY​

AKEED MOFEED
b c Dubawi (IRE) - Wonder Why (GER) (Tiger Hill (IRE))
Form: 412-
Owner: Jaber Abdullah
Trainer: John Oxx IRE
Breeder: Rabbah Bloodstock Limited

Hailing from the family of French Derby winner Hernando and the Group One scorer Johann Quatz, Akeed Mofeed made an eye-catching debut at Leopardstown on August 4 last year when staying on well to take fourth in a seven-furlong maiden after a tardy start. He also dwelt at the start on his next outing in maiden company on September 3, again over seven furlongs at Leopardstown, before coming through strongly to take up the running approaching the final furlong to score easily be five lengths. He started 5/6 favourite for his final run of 2011 in the mile Group Two Beresford Stakes, run on heavy ground at the Curragh on September 25. Despite staying on well close home, he went down by half a length to the Aidan O’Brien-trained David Livingston.
Race Record: Starts: 3; 1st: 1; 2nd: 1: 3rd:- Win & Place Prize Money: £26,259

KESAMPOUR (FR)
ch c King´s Best (USA) - Kasatana (IRE) (Hernando (FR)
Form: 11-1
Owner: H H Aga Khan
Trainer: Mikel Delzangles FR
Breeder: H H Aga Khan

Unbeaten in three starts, Kesampour was home-bred by the Aga Khan and is from a stamina-packed family that includes the Group race winners Kassani and Kassana as well as Irish St Leger winner Kastoria and 1988 Derby hero Kahyasi. He made his debut at Saint-Cloud on October 30, winning a mile contest for unraced horses by a length and a half. His only other juvenile start saw him step up to 10 furlongs for a conditions event back at Saint-Cloud on November 22, when he was the impressive five-length winner. Saint-Cloud was the venue for his seasonal return on April 1, when he was successful by two lengths in the Listed Prix Francois Mathet over 11 furlongs. After his latest success, trainer Mikel Delzangles stated that Kesampour could next run in the Prix Greffulhe - a race won by last year’s Investec Derby Pour Moi en route to Epsom Downs. His sire King’s Best was responsible for the 2010 Investec Derby hero Workforce.
Race Record: Starts: 3; 1st: 3; 2nd: -: 3rd:- Win & Place Prize Money: £47,917

MAIN SEQUENCE (USA)
ch c Aldebaran (USA) - Ikat (IRE) (Pivotal)
Form: 11-
Owner: Niarchos Family
Trainer: David Lanigan
Breeder: Flaxman Holdings Ltd

The home-bred Main Sequence is from the family of 2007 Oaks heroine Light Shift and caused a 50/1 shock on his debut when landing a mile maiden at Yarmouth on September 15. Despite running very green, he showed a willing attitude and quickened up impressively in the final furlong to score by an ultimately comfortable length and a quarter. He showed that shock success was certainly no fluke at Newmarket on October 19, when he was the comfortable three and a quarter length winner of a nine-furlong nursery.
Race Record: Starts: 2; 1st: 2; 2nd: -: 3rd:- Win & Place Prize Money: £7,347

MANDAEAN
b c Manduro (GER) - Summertime Legacy (Darshaan)
Form: 11-
Owner: Godolphin
Trainer: Mahmood Al Zarooni
Breeder: Darley

From the first crop of Manduro, Mandaean is a half-brother to Group One winner Wavering and on his dam-side is related to the 1982 Derby hero Golden Fleece. Last season he was under the care of Andre Fabre in France and won on both his starts in the colours of Godolphin France. His debut came in a nine-furlong contest for unraced horses at Longchamp on October 16, when he was the comfortable three-length winner. On his only other subsequent start, he was pitched in at the highest level for the final Group One contest of the European season, the Criterium de Saint-Cloud on November 12. Partnered once again by Maxime Guyon, he was always in a handy position and, despite hanging in the straight, scored comfortably by two and a half lengths. For the 2012 campaign, he joins trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni in Newmarket.
Race Record: Starts: 2; 1st: 2; 2nd: -: 3rd:- Win & Place Prize Money: £133,491

SWEDISH SAILOR
b c Monsun (GER) - Epitome (IRE) (Nashwan (USA))
Form: 1-
Owner: Godolphin
Trainer: Mahmood Al Zarooni
Breeder: Darley

Swedish Sailor is a half-brother to Exemplary, a multiple scorer between 10 furlongs and two miles, as well Synopsis, a Group Three-winning filly over a mile and a half in France. The son of Monsun was successful on his sole appearance of 2011 in a mile maiden at Yarmouth on October 25. Making nearly all the running, he was pushed out by Frankie Dettori for a comfortable five-length victory.
Race Record: Starts: 1; 1st: 1; 2nd: -: 3rd:- Win & Place Prize Money: £2,911

 

Finally the entries, as they now stand:


THE 2012 INVESTEC DERBY

Class 1, Group 1, £1,250,000 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, £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 Tuesday, April 3, 2011. May not include some overseas form.


Form Horse Owner Trainer

51- AAZIF (IRE) Hamdan Al Maktoum John Dunlop
ACCREDIT (IRE) Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
412- AKEED MOFEED Jaber Abdullah John Oxx IRE
ALINDJAR (IRE) H H Aga Khan John Oxx IRE
1- ALJAMAAHEER (IRE) Hamdan Al Maktoum Roger Varian
(6)- ALL THAT RULES Andrew Tinkler Sir Henry Cecil
(3)2- ALMAAS (USA) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
0- AL MAMZAR (IRE) Abdulla Ahmad Al Shaikh David Simcock
16- AL SAHAM Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
5-1 AMIRA'S PRINCE (IRE) Mohammed Al Ansari/Sue Magnier David Wachman IRE
1- APOLLO (IRE) Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
APOLLO ELEVEN (IRE) Ecurie Wildenstein Alain de Royer Dupre FR
133- ASTROLOGY (IRE) Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
4213- ATHENS (IRE) Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
(1) BASSETERRE (IRE) Raymond Mould Charlie Hills
BIOGRAPHER Bjorn Nielsen David Lanigan
13- BONFIRE Highclere Thoroughbred Racing-Pocahontas Andrew Balding
(0)(1) BORDONI (USA) Sheikh Hamdan Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum Mark Johnston
12- BORN TO SEA (IRE) Christopher Tsui John Oxx IRE
000- BURNHAM The Hill Stud Hughie Morrison
0-3 CALGACUS (IRE) Thistle Bloodstock Limited Dermot Weld IRE
611- CALL TO BATTLE (IRE) Neil Jones John Oxx IRE
11- CAMELOT Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
3- CAMERON HIGHLAND (IRE) H R H Sultan Ahmad Shah Roger Varian
4- CARDINAL WALTER (IRE) Fitri Hay David Simcock
33211- CAVALEIRO (IRE) Guy Brook Marcus Tregoning
5 CHICAGO (IRE) Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
CONTINUUM Khalid Abdulla Sir Henry Cecil
COTTESMORE (USA) Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
0- CRYING WOLF (USA) Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
5- DALIANCE (IRE) The Illusionists Tom Dascombe
01- DANDY (GER) Robert Tillett Andrew Balding
013- DANEKING Sir Eric Parker & Rachel Hood John Gosden
51431- DAVID LIVINGSTON (IRE) Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
6- DREAM TUNE H E Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Clive Cox
6(2)-(4)(3) DYNASTIC Andrew Tinkler Richard Hannon
EBAZAN (USA) H H Aga Khan John Oxx IRE
EHTEDAAM (USA) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
24- EL GRECO (IRE) Ballymacoll Stud Sir Michael Stoute
ELYASSAAT Hamdan Al Maktoum Roger Varian
21- ENCKE (USA) Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
5- ENERGIZE (FR) Andrew Tinkler Richard Hannon
1135-2(0) ENTIFAADHA Hamdan Al Maktoum William Haggas
EQUALIZER Manor House Stables LLP Tom Dascombe
ERNEST HEMINGWAY (IRE) Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
ESTEBSAAL (IRE) Hamdan Al Maktoum John Dunlop
EXTERMINATE (IRE) Thistle Bloodstock Limited Edward Lynam IRE
EXTREMELY ALERT Lawrie Inman Michael Bell
2115- FARHAAN (USA) Hamdan Al Maktoum John Dunlop
FATHER OF SCIENCE (IRE) Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
313- FENCING (USA) George Strawbridge John Gosden
3-(1) FORGOTTEN HERO (IRE) Jack Hanson, Cavendish Inv Ltd, Sir Alex Ferguson Charlie Hills
61- FRONTIER (GER) Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
1044-2 FURNER'S GREEN (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
31- FUTURE SECURITY (IRE) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
5- GABRIAL THE GREAT (IRE) Dr Marwan Koukash Michael Bell
GHOSTLY BRIGHT (USA) Brighton Farm Ltd No current trainer
1- GOLD RALLY (USA) Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
(1) GOOD OF LUCK Jaber Abdullah Mick Channon
(2)- GRANDILOQUENT Khalid Abdulla Sir Michael Stoute
GUEST OF HONOUR (IRE) The Honorable Earle I Mack Marco Botti
324-4 HAIL (IRE) Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
6(1)- HALLING'S QUEST The Fairy Story Partnership Hughie Morrison
41- HANDSOME MAN (IRE) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
HANSEATIC Khalid Abdulla John Gosden
0- HOMERIC (IRE) Highclere Thoroughbred Racing - Jackson Ed Dunlop
3- IBTAHAJ Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
1- IMPERIAL MONARCH (IRE) Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
0- INTHAR (USA) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
5- INVISIBLE HUNTER (USA) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
1- JUNGLE BEAT (IRE) Sue Magnier John Gosden
KALIK (FR) H H Aga Khan Alain de Royer Dupre FR
KASHGAR John Pearce Michael Bell
11-1 KESAMPOUR (FR) H H Aga Khan Mikel Delzangles FR
-(2)(1)(0)(0) KINGLET (USA) Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
(2)- KING OF DUDES Andrew Tinkler Sir Henry Cecil
KING OF THE PICTS (IRE) Thistle Bloodstock Limited Edward Lynam IRE
LAGO MINTO Marquise de Moratalla Alain de Royer Dupre FR
32144- LEARN (IRE) Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
LEBRON (IRE) Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
0(6)-0 LOOPDELOO (IRE) Thistle Bloodstock Limited John Shanahan IRE
5- LOTHIAN SKY (IRE) Dr Jim Walker William Jarvis
2- LUNAYIR (FR) H H Aga Khan Alain de Royer Dupre FR
11- MAIN SEQUENCE (USA) Niarchos Family David Lanigan
11- MANDAEAN Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
2- MANDOUR (USA) Princess Zahra Aga Khan Alain de Royer Dupre FR
MARCHESE MARCONI (IRE) Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
MARINER'S CROSS (IRE) Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
MARSHGATE LANE (USA) Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
515- MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT (IRE) Sir Robert Ogden Sir Michael Stoute
MICHELANGELO Bjorn Nielsen John Gosden
301-(6)(2)(1)(4) MICKDAAM (IRE) Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum Mike De Kock SAF
1- MIGHTY AMBITION (USA) Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
MINIMISE RISK Fitri Hay Andrew Balding
2- MOSHAAGIB (USA) Hamdan Al Maktoum John Gosden
052- MUBARAZA (IRE) Hamdan Al Maktoum John Dunlop
4- MUTASADDER (USA) Hamdan Al Maktoum Roger Varian
44- MYSTERIOUS MAN (IRE) Rex & Wendy Gorell/Peter & Di Pausewang Andrew Balding
11- NEPHRITE Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
2- NOBLE MISSION Khalid Abdulla Sir Henry Cecil
OFFER (IRE) Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
OMAR KHAYYAM John Pearce Andrew Balding
44- OPTIMIST (IRE) Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier David Wachman IRE
12021- PARISH HALL (IRE) Jackie Bolger Jim Bolger IRE
01- PEMBREY Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
12- PERENNIAL Khalid Abdulla Charlie Hills
5- PRINCE OF ORANGE (IRE) Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
2(2)- PULVERIZE (USA) Hamdan Al Maktoum Sir Michael Stoute
PURPLE BAY (IRE) Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
REIGNS OF GLORY (IRE) M S Al Shahi Richard Hannon
3- REPRESENTATION (USA) Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
2100- ROCK SUPREME (IRE) Andrew Tinkler Richard Hannon
ROYAL EMPIRE (IRE) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
51- RUGGED CROSS Thomas Barr Henry Candy
RULE BOOK (IRE) Andrew Tinkler Richard Hannon
0- SADMA Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
SHAMSIKHAN (IRE) H H Aga Khan Alain de Royer Dupre FR
2- SHANTARAM Lady Bamford John Gosden
(1)- SHIHAB (IRE) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
2- SHUJA (USA) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
42-0 SIR GRAHAM WADE (IRE) Paul Dean Mark Johnston
2 SPEAKING OF WHICH (IRE) Moyglare Stud Farms Ltd Dermot Weld IRE
(4) STAR FOR LIFE (USA) Eastwind Racing Ltd and Martha Trussell Mikael Magnusson
3- STENCIVE Bernard Kantor William Haggas
0- SUN CENTRAL (IRE) Lael Stable William Haggas
1- SWEDISH SAILOR Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni
SYNCHRONICITY (IRE) Julie Wood Richard Hannon
2-6 TAIGAN (USA) Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
32132- TENTH STAR (IRE) Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
4(2)-(0) THAT'S PLENTY (IRE) Thistle Bloodstock Limited Tracey Collins IRE
01- THOMAS CHIPPENDALE (IRE) Sir Robert Ogden Sir Henry Cecil
THOMAS DYLAN (IRE) Jackie Bolger/John Corcoran Jim Bolger IRE
531- THOMASGAINSBOROUGH (IRE) Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
1- THOUGHT WORTHY (USA) George Strawbridge John Gosden
16- TIBET (IRE) Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
1- TOP OFFER Khalid Abdulla Roger Charlton
TOTALLY DOMINANT (USA) M S Al Shahi Richard Hannon
613- TOWER ROCK (IRE) Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
(5) TREND IS MY FRIEND (USA) David Gorton Amanda Perrett
0-0 UNANIMOUS (IRE) Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
415- UNEX MICHELANGELO (IRE) Bill Gredley John Gosden
USTURA (USA) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
3(1)5- VALIDUS Stephen Stuckey Luca Cumani
VEDANI (IRE) H H Aga Khan John Oxx IRE
03- VENEGAZZU (IRE) Eledy Srl Peter Chapple-Hyam
0- WARWICK AVENUE (IRE) Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
31131-(3) WROTE (IRE) Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
01- WROTHAM HEATH Khalid Abdulla Sir Henry Cecil

148 entries engaged after April 3 second entry stage

 

Does anyone know of any stats about the amount of runs in 3yo season the derby winner has. I like Akeed Mofeed, but i believe the plan is a guineas trial, guineas, derringstown then derby. So would be his 4th run. Would this be a positive, negative or completely irrelevent?