G1 Betfred Derby

After the draw had been made for Saturday's G1 Betfred Derby in Epsom's Picture House on Wednesday, Team Godolphin were relieved that one box had been ticked regarding their G1 2,000 Guineas hero Ruling Court. Set to exit from a favourable stall in seven, the son of Justify now has only to navigate the race's notorious twists and turns and bottlenecks and stay the mile and a half. "We have always felt that the 2,000 Guineas is one of the best trials for the Derby and Ruling Court has trained...

The unbeaten Midak will represent the Aga Khan Studs in the G1 Betfred Derby on Saturday, June 7, after connections announced he would be supplemented for the Epsom feature. This year's edition of the race will be run in memory of the late His Highness Aga Khan IV. A homebred, the son of Footstepsinthesand won a maiden on the all-weather at first asking in March and prevailed over turf a month later in a conditions affair both over 2200 metres. He ran out a 2 1/2-length winner of the G3...

The Lion In Winter (Sea The Stars), a stylish winner of the G3 Acomb Stakes in 2024, leads the 42 remaining G1 Betfred Derby entries following the latest scratching stage. One of 16 Irish-trained runners, he is trading at 100-30 on Betfred for the June 7 showpiece at Epsom. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, the bay has a slew of stablemates entered, including Wootton Bassett Group -winning colts Twain--third choice at 7-1 and a winner of the G1 Criterium International, Swagman, GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Henri Matisse, and G1...

Julie Wood's Voyage (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), who parted ways with Pat Dobbs at the start of the G1 Betfred Derby, will return in the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot, according to trainer Richard Hannon. A winner at Newbury in April, the bay was making just his second start in the Blue Riband. "Unfortunately, things didn't go to plan for Voyage in the Derby after he stumbled coming out of the stalls and unseated Dobbsy, who had no chance whatsoever," Hannon said on his Unibet blog. "I...

After successfully claiming redemption in the G1 Betfred Derby on Saturday, City of Troy (Justify) has returned to his homebase at Ballydoyle and is going well since arriving late that evening. Aidan O'Brien's stable representative Chris Armstrong gave a positive report for the Derby victor, adding that the goal is to gradually build him back up to full training. "City Of Troy obviously flew over yesterday and got back last night at 10pm. He pulled out well this morning, went out, had a hand-walk and a pick of grass, had...

After all the speculation leading up to Saturday's G1 Betfred Derby, TDN Rising Star City Of Troy (Justify--Together Forever {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) gave an emphatic and euphoric answer to grace Epsom's Blue Riband with one of its finest displays. In huge contrast to Newmarket, where Ryan Moore became embroiled in a half-mile drag race, the champion juvenile of 2023 was in a hack-canter from stall one so often a disadvantage but which for this talented colt turned out a blessing. Able to let the pace play out in front...

In it seems no time at all, Coolmore's big horse City Of Troy (Justify) has gone from "our Frankel" to a colt carrying a huge symbolic question mark over a head that appeared poised to carry racing's crown. There have been few greater anti-climaxes in the history of Ballydoyle than that which accompanied his abject 2,000 Guineas performance and, following the roller-coaster experience of last year's Derby, we are unexpectedly back in familiar territory. What occurred at Epsom last June was heralded as a feat of training without equal as...

Aidan O'Brien will be represented by a trio in Saturday's G1 Betfred Derby, with Ryan Moore staying loyal to last year's champion juvenile City Of Troy (Justify) over the stable's other kingpin Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). As the draw for the Blue Riband took place on Epsom High Street, there was a very public blow to TDN Rising Star City Of Troy's chances as he was handed the dreaded stall one with all its disadvantages, with Los Angeles who will be partnered by Wayne Lordan faring slightly better in...

Abdulla Al Mansoori's Tabletalk (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) will be supplemented to the G1 Betfred Derby on Monday, May 27, according to published reports. Al Mansoori will pay £75,000 to enter his colt, who is trained by Tom Clover, while he also has the winner Kamboo (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) among the current Derby entries. Tabletalk finished third at Kempton in December before breaking his maiden over 1 1/4 miles over the Chelmsford all-weather by 1 1/4 lengths on May 9. He will be Clover's first Derby starter. Philip Robinson, Al Mansoori's...

Frankie Dettori will sell more than 120 pieces of memorabilia from his legendary career in an online auction through Cheffins in Cambridge starting on Wednesday, July 5 and continuing for two weeks. Dettori, who has been aboard more than 4,000 winners throughout his career, is set to retire from the saddle in November and says he is selling the items because his children have moved out of their family home and he his wife are scaling down in a move to be closer to London. "I'm going to be 53...

Michael Tabor, John and Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith and Westerberg's Derby hero Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is expected to make his next start in the July 2 G1 Irish Derby at The Curragh. "I would say he'll go to the Irish Derby," Tabor told racingtv.com. "I haven't discussed it, but it's common sense to say he definitely goes to the Irish Derby. Then we'll bring him back in trip--a mile and a quarter--for some of those races." The striking bay colt previously finished 12th in the May 6...

Bouncing back from his disappointment in the 2000 Guineas, TDN Rising Star Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}--Rhododendron {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) conquered Epsom's undulations to carry off a ninth G1 Betfred Derby for Aidan O'Brien. Sent off at 9-2 as the punters dallied over this year's favourite, the G1 Futurity Trophy winner was kept back from the early action by Ryan Moore worse than mid-division. Launched wide as the 66-1 shot King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) cut loose approaching two out, the bay took until the last 100...