Derby, Oaks & Coral Eclipse - a Huge Weekend
Enable (Nathaniel) makes her return this weekend Photo: Racing Post
A Derby, an Oaks and a Coral Eclipse all on one weekend is another example of the upside down, mixed around nature of this year’s racing calendar.
This season will inevitably draw scrutiny when comparisons are made to the form of years gone by and the quality of the horses it is producing. Simply because, for the 2yo & 3yo batch of horses particularly, there simply hasn’t been the traditional lead up into the Classic contests.
I have to confess that despite this, I am thoroughly enjoying it. Having followed racing in this part of the world for a while now, I am confident that the type of horses we are seeing would stack up very well in comparison to previous years.
What is happening in respect to the younger horses is that you are seeing one performance leading into a big race that indicates a horse could be anything, or conversely peter out into the average category. In regards to the older horses, trainers have no way of avoiding each other and are forced to pit their charges up against those they’d ordinarily steer clear from – this is evidenced clearly in the Coral Eclipse – which makes for some tantalising match ups.
All of this makes for excitement and some of the stories I’ve told over the past two or three weeks are coming to a head this weekend at Epsom and Sandown.
Epsom Downs - Saturday
Group 1 Investec Oaks – 1m 4f
The Oaks in Britain is the same as any Oaks across the globe. Primarily you’ll see a winning filly who is a true stayer and occasionally you’ll see one who’s raw talent means it can withstand the distance being beyond their optimum. The mile-and-a-half around Epsom means that you cannot simply rely on talent, as the undulations of the course mean it is an extremely stern test of a thoroughbred’s ability at the distance.
The race has a history of producing regally bred fillies who after gaining the Oaks crown are often retired to the broodmare paddock soon after.
Last year produced Anapurna (Frankel) off the back of the Oaks Trial. She then went on to win a Group 1 in France before failing on a wet track at Ascot in the British Champions Fillies & Mares against the older rivals. A prodigiously talented filly, she was sadly retired to stud at the conclusion of her three-year-old season. I am sure she would’ve gone on to carve out a very impressive record had she been retained in training and will always stick in my mind as a horse whose true potential was never realised.
The sensational Minding (Galileo) took out the 2016 running of the race. Having previously notched up Group 1 victories in the Moyglare Stakes and 1000 Guineas prior to the Oaks, she went on to score three further Group 1’s and a host of awards along the way. Upon retirement, she was considered one of the best mares of her generation.
In 2004, the great Ouija Board (Cape Cross) dismantled the opposition to take out the prize. Ouija Board is known as one of the great European racehorses of this century. She won a total of eight Group 1 races, including a Hong Kong Vase and a Breeders Cup Fillies and Mares Turf.
In 2017, Enable (Nathaniel) won the race when her massive talent was only just being discovered. Her reputation now proceeds her and will be talked about further with respect to the Coral Eclipse.
You have to go back to 2013 to find a trainer other than Aidan O’Brien or John Gosden next to the winner of the Oaks. It won’t be until at least 2021 until a trainer other than the two aforementioned will win it again, as this year can only be seen as a two-horse war out of those respective yards.
Love (Galileo) for O’Brien, Coolmore and Ryan Moore looked every bit a very special talent at Newmarket when taking out the 1000 Guineas a month ago. Having watched that replay again, she just looked the total blueprint of a Galileo filly that has been seen on a regular basis for these connections through the years. If there are negatives, it will come in the form of whether she has the stamina to cop the distance. The dam’s side is primarily full of sprinting stock, the dam is by Pivotal who’s exploits as a sire are primarily with sprinters. The form out of the 1000 Guineas hasn’t progressed that well next up, but she won that so convincingly that it doesn’t matter. Can she be the type to win on talent, rather than absolutely loving the distance? I think she can.
It is by no means a foregone conclusion however, as the Gosden trained, Dettori ridden Frankly Darling (Frankel) poses a massive threat. This is a filly we know will get the distance, as she did just that by winning the Ribblesdale at Ascot two weeks ago. It was a credit to her performance that day as she won while being green and inexperienced, pulling for the duration of the contest. Prior to that she had beaten the colts in a fast time at Newcastle after having a finishing second in her solitary start as a 2yo. She is by a mare who has produced four other individual winners at this distance and beyond, meaning Frankly Darling is beautifully equipped to be an Oaks winning type.
Both camps have entered ‘sacrificial lambs’ to ensure team tactics are at play. For Gosden it will be to ensure there is a strong gallop set and for O’Brien it will be to ensure the opposite happens and it turns into a sit and sprint for his main charge.
This will be a very good spectacle.
Group 1 Investec Derby – 1m 4f
The English version of The Derby is widely recognised as the most prestigious race in the world. That will draw some argument from those in different jurisdictions perhaps, but it is hard to argue against the history, the types of horses it has produced and the values of those horses going forward.
The Stanley family, the Earls of Derby, had a long history of horse-racing, and James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby, who gained the Lordship of Mann in 1627, instituted horse-racing on the Langness Peninsula on the Isle of Man, donating a cup for what became known as the "Manx Derby".
The Derby originated at a celebration following the first running of the Oaks Stakes in 1779. A new race was planned, and it was decided that it should be named after either the host of the party, the 12th Earl of Derby, or one of his guests, Sir Charles Bunbury (the Bunbury Cup run at Newmarket would later be named in his honour). According to legend the decision was made by the toss of a coin, but it is probable that Bunbury deferred to his host.
The inaugural running of the Derby was held on Thursday 4 May 1780. It was won by Diomed, a colt owned by Sir Charles Bunbury, who collected prize money of £1,065 15s. The first four running’s were contested over 1 mile, but this was amended to the current distance of 11⁄2 miles in 1784. Lord Derby achieved his first success in the event in 1787, with a horse called Sir Peter Teazle.
The starting point of the race was moved twice during the 19th century. The first move, suggested by Lord George Bentinck, was in 1848, and the second was in 1872. It was discovered in 1991 that the exact length of the race was one mile, four furlongs and 10 yards.
Initially, the Derby was run on a Thursday in late May or early June, depending on when Easter occurred. In 1838 the race was moved to a Wednesday to fit in with the railways' timetables, but still followed Easter. In the 20th century, the race was run on the first Wednesday in June from 1900 until 1995, not including 1915 to 1918 (during the First World War), when it was on a Tuesday. During the Second World War, from 1942 until 1945 the race was run on a Saturday, as it was in the post-war years of 1947 to 1950 and again in 1953. In 1995 the day was changed from the first Wednesday in June to the first Saturday, and since then all the races have taken place on that day. That is until 2020, when it is being held on the first Saturday of July.
The Derby has been run at Epsom in all years except during the world wars. From 1915 to 1918 and from 1940 to 1945, the Derby was run at Newmarket. These races are known as the 'New Derby'.
The Derby has inspired many similar events around the world. European variations include the Derby Italiano, the Deutsches Derby, the Irish Derby and the Prix du Jockey Club (popularly known as the French Derby). Several races in the United States include the "Derby" name, including the oldest, the Kentucky Derby. Other national equivalents include the Australian Derby, the New Zealand Derby, and the Tokyo Yūshun.
The honour roll reads as another who’s who of the stallion ranks. From Nijinsky (1970) and Mill Reef (1971) to modern day names such as Galilieo (2001), High Chaparral (2002), Motivator (2005), Sir Percy (2006), Authorized (2007), New Approach (2008), Sea The Stars (2009), Pour Moi (2011), Camelot (2012), Ruler Of The World (2013), Australia (2014), Golden Horn (2015) and the first winner for Godolphin Masar (2018).
In going back and having a look at some of these horses who have won this race, it gives you an insight into the talent that they possess. I want to shine a quick light on one who stands out as a truly magnificent animal and must be regarded as one of the greatest racehorses of all time.
A 2000 Guineas, Derby and Arc treble in the same season will qualify you as a truly great racehorse in this part of the world. Sea The Stars (Cape Cross) completed that in a remarkable 3yo season in 2009. In that year, he won Group 1’s in every month from May to October:
May – 2000 Guineas
June – The Derby
July – Coral Eclipse
August – Juddmonte International
September – Irish Champion Stakes
October – Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
If you look at replays of those races, you’ll find that he wasn’t the most flashy. He didn’t produce 10 length Frankel type wins, but he showed extreme durability and a devastating will to win. Regularly taking down three of the best of that generation in Rip Van Winkle, Mastercraftsman and Fame And Glory, he was the complete racehorse.
He retired at the end of that stellar 3yo season with an official rating of 136 and as we know has gone on to be equally as successful at stud.
This years edition is strong and is too close to call.
English King (Camelot) looks the personification of a stayer and heads up the betting. He took out the Derby Trial at Lingfield (a race last years winner Antony Van Dyck was successful in) doing cartwheels, suggesting the mile-and-a-half will pose no issue. The form out of that race has stacked up well since, the time was very good and he will be right in the hunt. Frankie Dettori has taken the mount off Tom Marquand which has quartered some controversy, and although drawn in the unfavoured Number One stall he will be desperately hard to beat.
2000 Guineas winner Kameko (Kittens Joy) is a horse of serious talent. On talent, he would be the best horse in the race. The distance will be the query, with his sire producing horses most comfortable over 1m 2f. In a normal year, he’d be looking for the Copral Eclipse and then Juddmonte Intetrnational as the programme, but this year is not normal! When you look at him, he profiles up very similar to his ill-fated relative Roaring Lion, also a Qatar Bloodstock owned son of Kittens Joy. That horse finished a progressive third in the Derby before going on to achieve great success back in distance. That may be the ticket for Kameko, but on sheer talent it would be no surprise to seeing him winning today.
I was at one stage questioning the possibility of Aidan O’Brien not having any live chances in this year’s renewal. It would’ve been unbelievable given he’s won five of the last eight contests. In a testament to the unbelievable talent at his disposal, he has pulled up three very good chances:
In what would be a great story for Australasian racing, Russian Emperor (Galileo) has a real chance here. Out of champion Fastnet Rock mare Atlantic Jewel, herself out of a Zabeel mare, this horse is part owned by Australian Laurie Macri. His win in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot was very tough, and while there are question marks over him at the distance, he is another adding spice to this affair.
It is very interesting that Ryan Moore has been booked for Mogul (Galileo), who in my mind is definitely the weakest of the O’Brien live chances. Built up as potentially brilliant, this horse has had soundness issues and failed last time out in The Ribbelsdale at Royal Ascot. The word from the camp is that he has been working the house down and serious respect has to go to the horse Ballydoyle chooses to put Moore on.
My pick in the race is Vatican City (Galileo). There will be stamina queries coming from the pedigree, but the second to Siskin in the Irish 2000 Guineas is very strong and in that race he looked to be crying out for more distance. I am predicting another Coolmore / Ballydoyle win, but not from the one most punters or perhaps even the stable suggest.
From other stables, respect must also be given to Pyledriver (Harbour Watch) and Khalifa Sat (Free Eagle) who couldn’t have done much more in the lead up to the race.
Worthily (Point of Entry) is another interesting runner and maybe one for the future if not for today.
With a strong undercard including the Listed Surrey Stakes and the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth, it will be a great days racing at Epsom Downs.
Sandown - Sunday
The card on Sunday at Sandown in any normal year would probably sell out four times over such is the quality and prospect of the feature race. It serves as a great second leg of this weekend’s double header.
Group 1 Coral Eclipse – 1m 2f
What an epic renewal we have this year.
The Coral Eclipse is one of Britain’s premier middle-distance Group 1 events. In recent years we have seen winners of the calibre of Sea The Stars (2009), Twice Over (2010), So You Think (2011), Nathaniel (2012), Golden Horn (2015), Ulysses (2017) and Roaring Lion (2018).
It would usually combine the best of the Derby talent with the older brigade, this year is different of course but no less in quality.
We have a field assembled that has an average official rating of 120 and is packed full of talent.
Champion mare Enable (Nathaniel) makes her long-awaited return to the racetrack looking to win this for the second year in a row. Like Winx, it is a real credit to the ownership group that they have bought her back for another season when you would have expected them to retire her. She is now more comfortable over 1m 4f, but the extreme talent she possesses means she is certainly the one to beat. Her record is 15 starts for 13 wins (10 at Group 1).
The Champion will face a massive threat in the form of Ghaiyyath (Dubawi). The 1m 2f at Sandown looks to suit his style right down to the ground. He will get to the front and free wheel for as long as he can. He is, as I’ve described him previously, a Jekyll and Hyde character, but on his day is one of the best racehorses in training in the world right now. His Dubai form, where he won the Dubai Millennium by 8.5 lengths on time ratings were sensational. He then battered a quality field four weeks ago at Newmarket in the Coronation Cup, free wheeling to victory down the Rowley Mile in a race of his own. If Enable is in any way in need of a first up run, then Ghaiyyath will take full advantage of that and prove very hard to catch. His programme out of this race will be interesting too, I’ve said before that he is a better version of Benbatl and it would be no surprise to see him head down under for a tilt at the Cox Plate. The Arc must be firmly in the plans as well, so it will be one or the other.
We can’t forget the highly talented Japan (Galileo), who looked like he needed the run in the Prince of Wales first up at Ascot. Last years Juddmonte International winner (beating Crystal Ocean) is a serious racehorse and is being plotted firmly towards the Arc. If he brings his A-game and has progressed in good order from Ascot, then he will be firmly in the finish too.
Last years Mackinnon Stakes winner at Flemington in Magic Wand (Galileo) is a horse not to be discounted either. She has amassed over £3.6million in prizemoney and in any other field would probably be favourite.
Also in the field is dual Group 1 winning Japanese raider Deidre (Harbinger), This horse took out the prestigious Group 1 Nassau Qatar Stakes at Goodwood last year and in his home country beat eventual Cox Plate winner Lys Gracieux (Heart’s Cry) in a Group 1 contest in Tokyo.
What a mouth-watering contest this promises to be.
The Sandown undercard features the Listed Dragon Stakes, the Group 3 Coral Charge, the Group 3 Henry II Stakes and the Listed Gala Stakes.
A huge weekend is in store.