Press Release: CAMELOT HEADS 24 REMAINING IN INVESTEC DERBY There is now just a fortnight until the 2012 Investec Derby Festival gets underway and the final fields for the Investec Derby and Investec Oaks are beginning to take shape following todayâs scratchings deadline. Run at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 2 and with a prize fund of at least £1,325,000, the Investec Derby has 24 colts going forward headed by the unbeaten Camelot, who is one of five remaining entries in the Group One contest for trainer Aidan OâBrien. Camelot was the impressive winner of the first Classic of the season, the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 5 and, if successful at Epsom Downs, would become the 37th colt to complete the 2000 Guineas/Derby double and the first since Sea The Stars in 2009. He is currently the 4/5 favourite for the Investec Derby with William Hill, Official Betting Partner of the 2012 Investec Derby Festival. OâBrien, who is seeking a third Derby success following the victories of Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002), could also be represented by Imperial Monarch, who was victorious in the Group Three bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown Park on April 28, Astrology, who was the runaway 11-length winner of the Group Three Dee Stakes at Chester on May 11, Father Of Science, an impressive maiden winner at Chester last week and Tower Rock, who was the neck runner-up in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown on May 13. There is one other potential challenger from Ireland in the shape of the Jim Bolger-trained Parish Hall, who has not been seen out so far this season but was successful in the Group One Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last season. The strongest rival to Camelot could prove to be yesterdayâs Betfred Dante Stakes victor Bonfire, who is current the 6/1 second favourite with William Hill. The son of Manduro was an impressive winner at York and represents owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (Pocahontas Syndicate) and trainer Andrew Balding. Winners of the Dante Stakes have an impressive record in the Investec Derby in recent years with Authorized (2007), Motivator (2005) and North Light (2004) having won both races. Other horses going forward to have won recognised trials for the Investec Derby include Chester Vase scorer Mickdaam and the unbeaten Main Sequence, who recorded his fourth and most recent victory in the Betfred Derby Trial at Lingfield Park on May 12. Pour Moi in 2011 became the first French-trained winner of the Investec Derby since Empery in 1976 and there is one potential starter from France this season in Kesampour. Trained by Mikel Delzangles for owner the Aga Khan, Kesampour is unbeaten in four outings and was successful in the Group Two Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud on May 5 last time out - the same race that Pour Moi won en route to Classic glory at Epsom Downs.   Sir Henry Cecil, trainer of four winners of the Investec Derby, has three potential challengers this time around headed by Frankelâs full-brother Noble Mission, a Listed winner at Newmarket last time out who is declared to run at the same venue in a similar contest again tomorrow, plus Wrotham Heath and Thomas Chippendale. The five-day conformation stage for the Investec Derby is on Monday, May 28, when there is also one final chance for connections to enter horses via the £75,000 supplementary entry stage.
THE 2012 INVESTEC DERBY Class 1, Group 1, £1,325,000 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 (24 remain), £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 Thursday, May 17, 2012. May not include some overseas form. Form Horse Owner Trainer 0- AL MAMZAR (IRE) Abdulla Ahmad Al Shaikh David Simcock 133-1 ASTROLOGY (IRE) Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE 13-1 BONFIRE Highclere Thoroughbred Racing-Pocahontas Andrew Balding 11-1 CAMELOT Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE 4-3 CARDINAL WALTER (IRE) Fitri Hay David Simcock 33211-(3) CAVALEIRO (IRE) Guy Brook Marcus Tregoning 2115- FARHAAN (USA) Hamdan Al Maktoum John Dunlop 51 FATHER OF SCIENCE (IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE 1-1 IMPERIAL MONARCH (IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE 11-11 KESAMPOUR (FR) H H Aga Khan Mikel Delzangles FR 11-1(1) MAIN SEQUENCE (USA) Niarchos Family David Lanigan 11- MANDAEAN Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni 12 MARINER'S CROSS (IRE) Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni 301-(6)(2)(1)(4)21 MICKDAAM (IRE) Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum Richard Fahey 215 MINIMISE RISK Fitri Hay Andrew Balding 2-11 NOBLE MISSION Khalid Abdulla Sir Henry Cecil 12021- PARISH HALL (IRE) Jackie Bolger Jim Bolger IRE 12-6 PERENNIAL Khalid Abdulla Charlie Hills 51- RUGGED CROSS Thomas Barr Henry Candy 01- THOMAS CHIPPENDALE (IRE) Sir Robert Ogden Sir Henry Cecil 1-2 THOUGHT WORTHY (USA) George Strawbridge John Gosden 613-32 TOWER ROCK (IRE) Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE 03-0 VENEGAZZU (IRE) Eledy Srl Peter Chapple-Hyam 01-2 WROTHAM HEATH Khalid Abdulla Sir Henry Cecil 24 entries remain after May 18 scratchings deadline 6 Irish-trained 1 French-trained THE FOLLOWING HORSES WERE REMOVED AT THE MAY 18 SCRATCHINGS DEADLINE: AAZIF (IRE), ACCREDIT (IRE), AKEED MOFEED, AL SAHAM, ALINDJAR (IRE), ALJAMAAHEER (IRE), ALL THAT RULES, ALMAAS (USA), AMIRA'S PRINCE (IRE), APOLLO ELEVEN (IRE), APOLLO (IRE), ATHENS (IRE), BASSETERRE (IRE), BIOGRAPHER, BORDONI (USA), BORN TO SEA (IRE), BURNHAM, CALGACUS (IRE), CALL TO BATTLE (IRE), CAMERON HIGHLAND (IRE), CHICAGO (IRE), CONTINUUM, COTTESMORE (USA), CRYING WOLF (USA), DALIANCE (IRE), DANDY (GER), DANEKING, DAVID LIVINGSTON (IRE), DREAM TUNE, DYNASTIC, EBAZAN (USA), EHTEDAAM (USA), EL GRECO (IRE), ELYASSAAT, ENCKE (USA), ENERGIZE (FR), ENTIFAADHA, EQUALIZER, ERNEST HEMINGWAY (IRE), ESTEBSAAL (IRE), EXTERMINATE (IRE), EXTREMELY ALERT, FENCING (USA), FORGOTTEN HERO (IRE), FRONTIER (GER), FURNER'S GREEN (IRE), FUTURE SECURITY (IRE), GABRIAL THE GREAT (IRE), GHOSTLY BRIGHT (USA), GOLD RALLY (USA), GOOD OF LUCK, GRANDILOQUENT, GUEST OF HONOUR (IRE), HAIL (IRE), HALLING'S QUEST, HANDSOME MAN (IRE), HANSEATIC, HOMERIC (IRE), IBTAHAJ, INTHAR (USA), INVISIBLE HUNTER (USA), JUNGLE BEAT (IRE), KALIK (FR), KASHGAR, KING OF THE PICTS (IRE), KING OF DUDES, KINGLET (USA), LAGO MINTO, LEARN (IRE), LEBRON (IRE), LOOPDELOO (IRE), LOTHIAN SKY (IRE), LUNAYIR (FR), MANDOUR (USA), MARCHESE MARCONI (IRE), MARSHGATE LANE (USA), MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT (IRE), MICHELANGELO, MIGHTY AMBITION (USA), MOSHAAGIB (USA), MUBARAZA (IRE), MUTASADDER (USA), MYSTERIOUS MAN (IRE), NEPHRITE, OFFER (IRE), OMAR KHAYYAM, OPTIMIST (IRE), PEMBREY, PRINCE OF ORANGE (IRE), PULVERIZE (USA), PURPLE BAY (IRE), REIGNS OF GLORY (IRE), REPRESENTATION (USA), ROCK SUPREME (IRE), ROYAL EMPIRE (IRE), RULE BOOK (IRE), SADMA, SHAMSIKHAN (IRE), SHANTARAM, SHIHAB (IRE), SHUJA (USA), SIR GRAHAM WADE (IRE), SPEAKING OF WHICH (IRE), STAR FOR LIFE (USA), STENCIVE, SUN CENTRAL (IRE), SWEDISH SAILOR, SYNCHRONICITY (IRE), TAIGAN (USA), TENTH STAR (IRE), THAT'S PLENTY (IRE), THOMAS DYLAN (IRE), THOMASGAINSBOROUGH (IRE), TIBET (IRE), TOP OFFER, TOTALLY DOMINANT (USA), TREND IS MY FRIEND (USA), UNANIMOUS (IRE), UNEX MICHELANGELO (IRE), USTURA (USA), VALIDUS, VEDANI (IRE), WARWICK AVENUE (IRE), WROTE (IRE)
Always nice to see his silks at Epsom ........................... a reminder of so many wonderful occaisions
Think Kesampour must be unlikely to show up, as he's 90/1 on betfair but should be much nearer 20 (or even 10) if he's turns up I think.
One heat that really impressed me at the weekend, and appears to have fallen under the radar of most people due to the fantastic exploits of Sir Henry's Frankel, was the Fairway Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday. I think the first 4 home are all really nice individuals and it really wouldn't surprise me if the winner (Thought Worthy) and the 3rd home (Rugged Cross) emerge as solid each-way alternatives for the Derby, in 12 days hence, if that is where connections decide to point them. I really liked the way that both battled in this Listed race, showed good speed throughout the contest and significantly both should improve markedly for the step up to 12 furlongs (Thought Worthy is a half brother to Derby 4th and Leger winner Lucarno, whilst Rugged Cross’ half brother, Blue Monday, was a dual Group winner at 11 furlongs ). The conservative, and perhaps safe, option for both may be the ‘King Edward VII Stakes’ at old Royal Ascot but if the brave line is taken I would not dismiss either of making the frame, at big prices, in our Premier Classic. Rugged Cross in particular is an intriguing entry in the Derby given that he should come on enormously for his seasonal debut and that Henry Candy isn’t one to call his geese swans and waste owners money, on entry fees, unnecessarily.
Yes Barney I agree it was a better trial than a lot that have been run this year. I personally think it was Noble Mission's best performance of the season. The question must be as regards your two horses is will they improve the 15 or 20lbs they need to by June 2nd? Doubtful. Farhaan didn't stay but will be worth looking at in something like the Jersey Stakes.
A most curious one. I had him down as a possible springer in the Guineas at a big price because he looked like he didn't quite get home over 8f at 2. He's almost certainly not that level but why he was tried up in trip straight away seems a little perplexing to me.
The mug I am I suggested him to be the one to turn over Noble Mission at the weights. I then mugged up on his pedigree and he certainly wasn't a surefire miler. So I agree with you Zenyatta, why they upped him is a mystery only known to Dunlop. Probably fancied a runner in the Derby so thought he'd better try him out first over a bit further. He struggled up the hill.
I seem to remember his pedigree being very mixed as far as stamina is concerned. I think his sire won the Belmont and his dam was a sprinter. That is just from memory and I could be wrong on both accounts. The way he travelled and then weakened in the Royal Lodge suggested that a step up in trip was the last thing he wanted. It will be interesting to see where Dunlop sends him next.
I note that old Henry Candy has said that Rugged Cross will now go for the Derby. My second favourite trainer with the Christian name Henry remarked, ‘I was very pleased with his run (at Newmarket) - he was a bit rusty and I think if he'd had a previous run he might very nearly have won that race. He will run (in the Derby) and he won't have to do a lot of work after that, as that was a pretty serious bit of exercise.' Is not without an each-way chance, in my humble opinion, and I honestly believe that that there are a lot worse 50/1 shots around than this old boy.
