Frenchman Andre Fabre is eyeing his third G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, and his G1 Prix du Jockey Club bridesmaid Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is one of 12 remaining in the lineup for the €1.5-million feature at The Curragh on July 1. Waldgeist saluted in last term's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and Fabre feels another top-shelf victory is not beyond his scope.
“It doesn't seem that any horse is able to be the best by 3lbs or 4lbs, they all seem to be very much together, so that is why I am taking my chance,” said Fabre. “I think it is a good opportunity for him. He stays well, he has a big heart and he has a good acceleration as well as the ability that he has already shown. I'm a great fan of The Curragh. It is a beautiful track, well designed, you cannot be unlucky as it is a very fair course.”
Third in the Blue Riband was Anthony Oppenheimer's Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who will receive the services of two-time Irish Derby victor Pat Smullen in place of the injured Frankie Dettori from the John Gosden stable Saturday.
“Cracksman is in great form and I'm very happy with him,” said a pleased Gosden, who sent out Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) to win this Classic in 2015. “All being well we are going to The Curragh on Saturday, it is a lovely track and I think it will suit him. They are two very nice horses from Epsom and I thought Wings Of Eagles was impressive in the Derby. I'm very clear in my mind that he would have been an unlucky loser as he was stopped twice in running and still won it at the finish. I don't think it was a fluke but the pair of them are nice horses and it will be great to see them meet up at The Curragh.”
Aidan O'Brien's G1 Investec Derby hero Wings Of Eagles (Fr) (Pour Moi {Ire}) leads a Coolmore octet. The rest of the Ballydoyle brigade at this stage include: G2 Beresford S. hero Capri (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Group 3 winner Douglas Macarthur (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), GSP Finn McCool (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Spanish Steps (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), GSP Taj Mahal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), MGSP The Anvil (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Venice Beach (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who scored in the G3 Chester Vase S., still signed on.
The remaining acceptors number Jim Bolger's listed winner Dubai Sand (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) for Godolphin and Jessica Harrington's Grandee (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). If the latter saluted, it would be the first victory for a female trainer in the Irish Derby.
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