Declarations for Epsom's G1 Betfred Derby and G1 Betfred Oaks were confirmed Wednesday morning with 14 standing their ground for Saturday's Blue Riband and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Precise (Starspangledbanner) the only notable absentee from Friday's Oaks.
Last month's G3 Chester Vase winner Benvenuto Cellini (Frankel) is joined by Aidan O'Brien stablemates Action (Frankel), Christmas Day (Camelot) and Pierre Bonnard (Camelot) as the trainer seeks to enhance his record haul of 11 in the Derby.
Other leading contenders Ancient Egypt (Frankel), Bay Of Brilliance (New Bay), Maltese Cross (Sea The Stars), Item (Frankel) and James J Braddock (Zarak) remain on target for the main event.
The Derby draw took place in London on Wednesday, with the “lucky” 10 stall which has been successful a dozen times handed to Amo Racing's Ancient Egypt. Of the big favourites, Benvenuto Cellini is in 12, with Item in three. Maltese Cross is in one, with Pierre Bonnard in eight.
“We'd have to be happy with 12 for Benvenuto Cellini, I think that's the stall from which Australia and Serpentine came out of, while Christmas Day has stall five which is the one his sire Camelot came out of,” Coolmore's Kevin Buckley said.
O'Brien has three remaining in the Oaks, with Listed Cheshire Oaks victrix Amelia Earhart (Camelot) the likely favourite and accompanied by Cameo (Wootton Bassett) and Sugar Island (Dubawi). The trainer had given prior notice of Precise's doubtful participation when more than the expected rainfall befell Epsom on Monday and Tuesday. Juddmonte's Legacy Link (Dubawi) was handed stall one for the mile-and-a-half Classic, with Amelia Earhart in four. Shapoor Mistry's G3 Salsabil Stakes-winning homebred Thundering On (Frankel) is in stall five, the same draw from which the 2024 winner Ezeliya emerged having won the same Navan trial.
Later in the afternoon, it was announced that Ryan Moore would ride the Oaks and Derby favourites Amelia Earhart and Benvenuto Cellini, with Christophe Soumillon renewing his partnership with Pierre Bonnard, who he steered to success in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud and Zetland last term.
Wayne Lordan will be on Cameo in the Oaks and on Action in the Derby, with Ronan Whelan on Sugar Island in the Oaks and Christmas Day in the Derby.
Derby draw and riders:
Action Lordan 11
Alderman Dobbs 6
Ancient Egypt Egan 10
A Taste Of Glory Spencer 7
Balzac De Souza 2
Bay Of Brilliance Crouch 9
Benvenuto Cellini Moore 12
Christmas Day Whelan 5
Item Keane 3
James J Braddock McMonagle 13
Maltese Cross Marquand 1
Pierre Bonnard Soumillon 8
Poker Scott 4
Rebel Rocker Hornby 14
Oaks draw and riders:
A La Prochaine Doyle 2
Amelia Earhart Moore 4
Cameo Lordan 9
K Sarra Ryan 6
Legacy Link Keane 1
On Message Crouch 7
Sugar Island Whelan 3
Thundering On McMonagle 5
Venetian Lace Buick 8
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