The Derby Festival (now sponsored by Cazoo) enters it's second day this Saturday with the 242nd running of the historic blue ribbon event The Derby. Delayed until July last year due to the pandemic it's great to see the races return to their traditional date in the calendar and also for there to be a limited attendance too. Not the 100k+ that we'd usually see descend upon the downs but it's a step forward.
Going / Weather
Going - Good to soft (Updated Saturday morning from Good)
Weather for Saturday is for another dry day and a maximum temperature of 22C.
Here are our selections for today's card, our feature race is off at 4:30pm.
14:00 Cazoo Handicap (3yo)
1m 2f 17y [Class 2 8 runners]
Mark Johnston runs three here which clouds things a little though looks like King Frankel would be the pick of his, several of these step up in grade and PATIENTS DREAM was a winner here last time out and conditions will help again. An outsider of interest to me is ZHANG FEI and David Egan is riding well of late might be able to squeak a place at 20/1.
Winner - (9) Solent Gateway @28/1 [Hayley Turner].
14:35 Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Group 3)
1m 113y [Class 1 8 runners]
First of the supporting group races, for fillies and mares, where we will side with the pair of MAAMORA (S&E Crisford) along with STATEMENT (M Meade). Maamora has already won a similar event last year at Sandown and has been racing in Dubai with some credit in group two company. While Statement stepped forward after winning her maiden to be runner up in the Fred Darling stakes at Newbury and a repeat of that level should see her get involved again.
Winner - (3) Parent's Prayer @4/1 [Oisin Murphy].
15:10 Cazoo Diomed Stakes (Group 3)
1m 113y [Class 1 7 runners]
The next group three race could see a double for the Crisford yard with CENTURY DREAM back in class after competing in the group one Lockinge stakes at Newbury. Having won the Celebration Mile at Goodwood (group two) it was therefore no surprise to see him try the highest level. Sir Michael Stoute runs MAXIMAL [Non Runner] and it's around this time before Royal Ascot that the yard begins to thrive. Chased home a decent winner at Chester last time, this long straight should give him plenty of time to make a positive move.
Winner - (6) Oh This Is Us @18/1 [Tom Marquand].
15:45 'Dash' Handicap (Heritage Handicap)
5f [Class 2 16 runners]
The huge field for the fastest 5f sprint in the country, twenty declared and this is a minefield. top weights Stone of Destiny and Exalted Angel will find it hard to give weight and are both drawn high, ORNATE is one of a few that have a good record here and despite the advancing years should go well from a low draw (6). BLUE DE VEGA is another with good experience here and would be interesting to see what the market says about his chances from stall 3.
Outsider - The 12yo DUKE OF FIRENZE still has races in him even at this late stage in his career reminds me a lot of Borderlescott and at the bottom of this handicap priced up 33/1 could place if the gaps come, is always played rather late, but at the price is worth a small risk.
Winner - (17) Mokaatil @25/1 [David Egan].
16:30 Cazoo Derby (Group 1)
1m 4f 6y [Class 1 11 runners]
And at last we get to the big race of the weekend, the 3yo colts have their one and only chance of glory in The Derby. Twelve declared, surprised that this year Aiden O'Brien only has the sole runner (usually has 5, 6+) but it's the favourite BOLSHOI BALLET winner of the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown, already very short in the ante post markets since that success and clearly the one to beat. His son Joseph has a runner too with SOUTHERN LIGHTS at 20/1 was only 6th in that race but was also just his 3rd run. Jim Bolger runs the Irish 2000 Guineas winner MAC SWINEY the question is whether he'll get the extra half mile around this unique track.
The home challenge is led by Charlie Appleby who runs three in the Godolphin blue silks, ADAYAR [Adam Kirby] HURRICANE LANE [William Buick] ONE RULER [James Doyle] with Hurricane Lane perhaps the pick of the trio and the only unbeaten runner here. JOHN LEEPER has Frankie Dettori on board and is named after the trainers late father John Dunlop. Ed Dunlop's contender, bred as a son of Frankel out of the trainer's 2010 Oaks heroine Snow Fairy, named after his late father, himself a dual-Derby winning trainer with Shirley Heights in 1978 and Erhaab in 1994, would certainly be the most emotional story today if he is successful.
Winner - (1) Adayar @16/1 [Adam Kirby].
17:15 Northern Dancer Handicap
1m 4f 6y [Class 2 10 runners]
A handicap over the Derby trip, AUSTRALIS should run better over this trip instead of recent efforts over two miles, has wins on the all weather during the winter season and if he can find some turf form on the fast going shouldn't be too far away. Going to have two against the field here so MIDNIGHTS LEGACY (WON 12/1) comes into our reckoning too Alan King's 4yo can show a similar form to his two wins over this trip at Haydock last summer, couple of recent runner up efforts makes him interesting again in a wide open race.
Winner - (5) Midnights Legacy @12/1 [William Buick].
17:50 Epsom Welcomes Cazoo Handicap
6f 3y [Class 2 9 runners]
the finale is a decent six furlong sprint, a winner already at Kempton and Goodwood this season DESERT SAFARI looks a typical Mark Johnston improver were it'll be no surprise if he picks up another handicap or two along the way this term. Do also like EJTILAAB (WON 3/1) trained by Ian Williams ran well when runner up at Chester and steps back a furlong for this we'll pick that pair against the field.
Outsider - TINTO (A Perrett) sliding down the handicap and has a chance despite the long losing run, blinkers tried again and good chance of a place despite the no show in the Victoria handicap at Ascot last time (no chance with the draw).
Winner - (9) Ejtilaab @3/1 [David Egan].
Results from today's meeting will be update later throughout the afternoon. Have a great weekend.
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