Yes I know it's a long way off, but this morning the details of the entries for the 2014 Derby have been made public. Press Release below. STARS GALORE IN 2014 INVESTEC DERBY No less than 33 yearlings from the first crop of the brilliant Sea The Stars are among the 406 glittering entries revealed today for the 2014 Investec Derby. Sea The Stars himself won the 2009 Investec Derby amid an outstanding three-year-old campaign that brought a total of run of six Group One victories before his retirement to stud. His first progeny will contest a prize worth at least £1.325 million at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 7, 2014, in the 235th running of the world's most famous Flat race. Sea The Stars' entries include the first-foal of Japanese star mare Vodka, whose seven top-level successes included the Japan Cup, a 1.2 million euros colt out of 2009 Prix Jean Romanet winner Alpine Rose who topped the Arqana August Sale, and sons of the 2000 and 2008 Investec Oaks heroines Love Divine and Look Here. Sea The Stars' owner Christopher Tsui has six of the sire's yearlings entered. Sea The Stars' half-brother Galileo, regarded by many as the world's best stallion, has 52 entries including Qatar Racing's 2.5 million guineas purchase Hydrogen, the most expensive yearling sold at auction this year. The three-parts brother to 2007 Investec Derby hero Authorized is set to go into training with Peter Chapple-Hyam. Another eye-catching entry is Primogeniture, the first foal of four-time Indian Classic heroine Jacqueline who is in training with John Oxx in Ireland. Godolphin's 68 initial entries include a New Approach colt out of 2002 Investec Oaks winner Kazzia, and a Street Cry colt out of US Grade Two scorer Serenading, who sold for $1.2 million at Saratoga in August. Camelot and Pour Moi have captured the past two renewals of the Classic for the Coolmore partners Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith are responsible for 56 entries between them. Among their contingent is the Galileo colt out of dual Group One winner Red Evie and another Galileo colt out of multiple Group One scorer Alexander Goldrun, who was purchased for 950,000 guineas at Tattersalls. Other notable purchases for the Coolmore team, who also landed the Investec Derby with Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002), include a 525,000 guineas Galileo colt out of 2004 Investec Oaks heroine Ouija Board. The Aga Khan has also enjoyed four Investec Derby triumphs with Shergar (1981), Shahrastani (1986), Kahyasi (1988) and Sinndar (2000) and he has 19 entries for the 2014 Group One spread between Alain de Royer-Dupre and Mikel Delzangles in France plus John Oxx in Ireland. Hamdan Al Maktoum, whose famous blue and white silks were carried to victory by Nashwan (1989) and Erhaab (1994) at Epsom Downs, is well represented with 23 entries including Almuhalab - a Dansili colt out of 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes winner Ghanaati, who goes into training with Charlie Hills. A star-studded entry includes Throne Room, an Oasis Dream half-brother to Nathaniel and Great Heavens, and many expensive yearlings including an 800,000 euros Galileo colt out of Flames in training with Tommy Stack. Andrew Cooper, Director of Racing at Epsom Downs Racecourse, commented: "The first entry for the 2014 Investec Derby not only includes the very best bred yearlings in Europe but the race's global appeal is exemplified by the fact that colts out of Indian and Japanese champion racemares are engaged. "We are also hugely encouraged to see such a international spread of owners represented and look forward to the recent run of outstanding Investec Derby winners continuing." The figure of 406 entries is 32 less than last year but, for the fourth year in succession, the number of entries is over 400. The recent entry numbers for the Investec Derby are as follows: 2014-406; 2013-442; 2012-478; 2011-444; 2010-388. Investec, which has sponsored the Derby since 2009, last year announced an extension to the Derby Festival sponsorship until 2021. Selected leading owners in 2014 Investec Derby 68 Entries Godolphin 23 Entries Hamdan Al Maktoum 20 Entries Sue Magnier (three in partnerships with Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Susan Roy) 19 Entries HH Aga Khan 18 Entries Michael Tabor (two in partnerships with Sue Magnier and Derrick Smith) Derrick Smith (one in partnership with Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor) 13 Entries Niarchos Family 11 Entries Khalid Abdulla 9 Entries Qatar Racing Limited 8 Entries Highclere Thoroughbred Racing 7 Entries Jackie Bolger Ballymacoll Stud Wildenstein Family 6 Entries Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani Christopher Tsui 5 Entries Andrew Tinkler Lady Rothschild Pearl Bloodstock 4 Entries Bjorn Nielsen Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani 3 Entries Moyglare Stud Farms Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar Sir Robert Ogden 2 Entries Lady Bamford George Strawbridge
Serious question/ What is the point in having entries at such an early stage? Is it just a money making exercise to get the money of hundreds of entries than won't run in it?
It is partly a money making exercise. If you don't pay to enter now, it will cost you a lot more nearer the race. I don't have the figures to hand, but I will check them tomorrow. We are talking thousands of pounds in the difference though.
As a Ballymacoll watcher I know for the last 3 years they've had 1 maybe 2 entries at this stage. And for those last few years they've not had good seasons or reasons to regret not entering them. This year out of 9 possibilities there are 7 entered. Could this mean they feel they have a vintage crop of colts or that it wasn't worth not bothering. Amongst them:- Juvenile Lead by Sea the Stars out of Drama Class (1/2 brother to Eleanora Duse) Jone des Champs by Montjeu out of Desert Bloom (1/2 brother to Fiorente) Montone by Danehill Dancer out of Leocorno (dam is half-brother to Golan and Tartan Bearer) Pas de Cheval by Pivotal out of Olympienne (1/2 brother to Patkai, dam is full-sister to Islington) Song of Namibia by Cape Cross out of Spring Symphony (1/2 brother to Glass Harmonium, dam is half sister to Conduit) no doubt the 2 they didn't enter will turn out to be their best!! (my money would be on Rochambeau as the mare was sold, and Love Tangle as the mare was sold but had been a nightmare). I suppose it's more than likely the winner is among the 400 entries. I can only remember Kris Kin being supplemented, but maybe that's not correct. No Royal entries, which is rare, she usually has 1 or 2.
Here is the cost breakdown for entering a horse in the 2014 Derby Option A £500 entry, paid December 2012 £1,000 to confirm entry, paid March 2014 £3,000 to confirm entry, paid early May 2014 £2,500 to declare, paid end of May 2014 Total cost: £7,000 Option B £8,000 entry, paid March 2014 £10,000 to confirm entry, paid early May 2014 £2,500 to declare, paid end of May 2014 Total cost: £20,500 Option C £75,000 supplementary entry, paid end of May 2014 Total cost £75,000
Interesting. Surely you would be best off waiting and paying the extra 13500, when you know what you have got. I must be missing something though, the amount of people that enter early.
