It is one Classic in the English racing calendar that the British Monarch has not won yet. However, on Derby day, Queen Elizabeth who has been the Head of State since 1953, takes that traditional ride down the Epsom homestretch. Today, her visit to Epsom carries special significance. Carlton House, the 9/4 favorite to take Britain’s most prestigious horserace, will be ridden by Ryan Moore who will wear the Queen’s silks.
The appellation has changed. Epsom Derby is now being sponsored by Investec, a banking and investment behemoth. Traditionally carded on Wednesday, the Derby was run on the first day of a four-day festival. Now, we have a two-day extravaganza. The Oaks and the Coronation Cup are contested on Friday and the Derby takes center stage on Saturday. All the three races are Group I events.
Will the royal drought end this year? Yes, there is that emotional aspect of the Royal involvement. The Derby is a national sporting event. Carlton House’s presence in the big race has got the casual and the once-in-a-bluemoon fan talking about the Queen’s colt’s chances. Sir Michael Stoute, not a stranger to limelight, is again in the public eye. The unflappable and laconic Ryan Moore has demonstrated his skills as a diplomat.
There is another person keenly watching the Derby story unfold. Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed,bought Highland Glen, a horse the Queen owned. As a reciprocal gesture, Sheikh Mohammed gifted Carlton House, among other horses, to the British monarch. Highland Glen rewarded his new owner with a win first time out. Carlton House was second in his debut but the Street Cry colt won a Maiden Stakes at Newbury over a mile in his next outing. Sir Stoute's pupil made his reappearance in the Dante Stakes at York in May and beat the strongly fancied Seville. The Dante, a 2100-metre contest, has been, over the years, the most reliable pointer to the Epsom showpiece. Ryan Moore heaped praise on the Royal colt and the fact is that anything that jockey Moore says has an immediate impact on the market.
The reaction from the bookmakers was swift. Carlton House was made the 11-8 favorite for the Derby. Everything was going according to Sir Stoute's playbook. Have we not seen the best of plans go awry because of an unforeseen glitch? On Monday, Carlton House knocked a joint during a canter. The market was shaken. The exchanges, at one point, saw money pouring in the direction of Pour Moi, an Andre Fabre trainee. As constant monitoring became the order of the day, the status of Carlton House was put in the 'doubtful' category. Yesterday, a 1200-metre workout seemed to set at rest any fears about the Queen's colt's readiness for Saturday. With diminishing apprehension in the market, Carlton House is now a steady 9/4 to give Her Majesty first success in the Derby.
The Derby is the fifth race in the seven-event card. The race will be run at 4 PM England time.The winner receives 709,625 pounds.
We will take the Derby horses in the order of betting numbers. Castlemorris King will be ridden by Mark Coumbe. Michael Attwater trains. The David Simcock-trained Marhaba Malyoon will have Jamie Spencer. Masked Marvel will represent John Gosden and William Buick will be aboard. Memphis Tennessee, trained by Aidan O'Brien, will be handled by Joseph O'Brien.
Now we will devote a paragraph to Native Khan from Ed Dunlop's yard. The grey won Newmarket's Group III Craven Stakes with relative ease in the hands of Kieren Fallon. In the 2000 Guineas, Native Khan was third. Jockey Fallon knows the contours of Epsom Downs and has three Derby wins to his credit. The expectation was that Fallon would ride Native Khan on Saturday but in racing, simple propositions acquire serious overtones. Kieren Fallon has lived a life on the edge of disaster and has thrived on it. A traffic transgression has forced Fallon to appear before a judge and offer a convincing reason why a revoking of his driving license will adversely impact his avocation. Fallon's decision to take Aidan O'Brien's Recital over Native Khan has caused another controversy and has drawn the attention of the courts. Native Khan's connections are alleging that the six-time British riding cxhampion is guilty of breach of contract and have asked for an injunction that would stop Fallon from riding in the Derby. A decision is awaited. Native Khan, a son of Azamour, figures to stay the Derby trip. He is a viable prospect.
Ocean War will be ridden by Frankie Dettori and carries the hopes of the Godolphin establishment. The Dalakhani colt was fifth in his debut in July 2010. Ocean War broke his duck in April at Newmarket in a Maiden Stakes. On April 30, The Mahmood Al Zarooni charge was successful in a listed race over 2000 metres at Newmarket. Mickael Barzalona was the winning rider but has been engaged to ride Andre Fabre's Pour Moi. Dettori, who won with Authorized in 2007, is seeking his second win in the Derby.
Pisco Sour, third in the Dante, needs to find a great deal. Jimmy Fortune rides for Hughie Morrison.
It is time now to take a careful look at Pour Moi. The Montjeu colt has raced four times and all the races have come on French tracks. On good to soft ground at Saint Cloud, Pour Moi won the 2000-metre Group II Prix Greffulhe easily. Pour Moi's work at Epsom has pleased trainer Fabre who has been upbeat about his colt's chances all week long. My fear is that Pour Moi will be seriously challenged by Epsom's undulations. Mickael Barzalona rides. Pour Moi is a clear 4/1 second favorite and has come in for a lot of support.
Recital, Fallon's ride, has moved up in the wagering hierarchy. A Ballydoyle runner, Recital, a Montjeu colt, was an impressive winner in Leopardstown's Group II Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes and has been training forwardly since. Fallon at Epsom is an asset any trainer would love to have. It is the judge who will have the last word on Fallon's participation in the Derby.
Seville was the 5-4 favorite in the Dante when beaten by Carlton House. The son of Galileo has made consistency a virtue and is another runner from Aidan O'Brien's stable. After a win at Gowran Park in his debut, Seville got an encore at Tipperary. A bridesmaid effort to Casamento in Doncaster's Racing Post Trophy followed. Seville needs to find a length and a half on Carlton House and it will not be easy.
Colm O'Donoghue rides Treasure Beach, another Aidan O'Brien runner. Treasure Beach's most notable win came in the Group III Chester Vase on May 5. It was a race over one mile four furlongs and 66 yards. Treasure Beach is by Galileo.
Vadamar completes the 13-horse line up. Christophe Lemaire rides the Aga Khan-owned colt who is trained by Alain de Royer Dupre. A beaten chalk when third to Pour Moi in the Prix Greffulhe, Vadamar is by Dalakhani. Vadamar is a liberal 16/1 in the market.
It will be a busy day at Epsom. The off track mechanism will be extra busy. Doncaster has six races beginning at 2 20 PM. Hexham has a six-race jumps card starting at 2 15 PM. Lingfield runs a twilight meeting that starts at 6 15 PM. Musselburgh in Scotland goes with seven races beginning at 2 05 PM. Newcastle has a twilight program. Tramore in Ireland hosts a jumps card. Worcester will have a seven-race jumps card.
