Moore to Ride Mendelssohn in Derby

Englishman Ryan Moore is set to contest the May 5 GI Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs aboard Coolmore partners' blowout G2 UAE Derby hero Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy), according to trainer Aidan O'Brien, who spoke with At The Races Sunday. O'Brien is now in the process of finalizing jockey plans for his trio of potential G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas contenders–Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and U S Navy Flag (War Front)–as the first English Classic of the season is held at Newmarket that same day.

“I think it was [straightforward] for Ryan,” said the Ballydoyle maestro of the decision to ride the 2017 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero. “He was always fascinated by the Kentucky Derby and obviously this horse [Mendelssohn] was coming along lovely last year. He went through the winter well and his first two runs were lovely, so that [Kentucky Derby] is what Ryan is thinking at the moment.”