474 Entered at First Stage for 2009 Epsom Derby
21/12/07

A total of 474 horses have been entered at the yearling stage for the 2009 Derby at Epsom Downs. The 2009 Derby will take place on Saturday, June 6 and the entry marks an increase of nine on the number of yearlings received last year for the 2008 Derby.

Authorized galloped to an impressive five-length victory in the 2007 running of the great Classic and the Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained colt’s younger brother, by Montjeu out of Funsie, is entered for the Derby in 2009.

The youngster is part of the contingent from Coolmore, comprising of owners Sue Magnier (36 entries), Michael Tabor (19 entries), Derrick Smith (16 entries) and Anne Marie O’Brien (one entry) who are responsible, either individually or in collaboration, for 72 of the yearlings engaged.

Coolmore’s principal handler, the Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O’Brien, is responsible for the preparation of 70 entries, significantly more than any other trainer.

Coolmore and O’Brien won the Derby in 2001 with Galileo and again in 2002 with High Chaparral. This year their entry includes a full brother to the latter, being by the great Sadler’s Wells out of Kasora, as well as an own brother to 2006 Oaks winner Alexandrova by the same sire out of Shouk.

O’Brien also has the Derrick Smith-owned Dalakhani colt out of Bella Lambada, who sold for one million guineas at Tattersalls in October, and the trainer/owner combinations again teams up with the Galileo colt out of Silver Pivotal, who was knocked down for 750,000 guineas at the same sale.

The Coolmore entry also includes a US$1.7 million buy from Keeneland’s September Sale, by Storm Cat out of Mythomania, Hamdan Al Maktoum saw his famous blue and white colours carried to victory in Turf’s Blue Riband aboard Nashwan in 1989 and again on Erhaab in 1994 and he has 46 yearlings entered for the 2009 Derby.

Sheikh Mohammed is the driving force behind the Maktoum family’s Godolphin operation. The Dubai team won the 1995 Derby with the brilliant Lammtarra and has 32 youngsters entered, including a Cape Cross colt out of the 1988 Oaks winner Diminuendo and a Pivotal yearling out of the 1995 Oaks heroine Moonshell.

The Godolphin contingent also has a US$2.9 million Keeneland September yearling by Dynaformer out of Grade One winner Preach, as well as a Distorted Humor colt out of Stormy Bear, purchased at the same sale for US$1.9 million. The Godolphin entry includes the three parts brother to Divine Proportions, by Gone West out of Myth To Reality, who made one million guineas at Tattersalls in October.

Shergar romped to victory in the 1981 Derby, winning by a record 10-length margin for the Aga Khan, and the owner enjoyed further success in 1986 with Shahrastani, two years later with Kahyasi and again in 2000 with the brilliant Sinndar. He has entered 27 yearlings for 2009.

Trainer Henry Cecil last won the Derby in 1999 when Oath triumphed under Kieren Fallon. The trainer has also been successful with Slip Anchor (1985), Reference Point (1987) and Commander In Chief (1993) and he has five 2009 Derby entries at his Warren Place Stables.

Cecil’s quintet includes a son of his 2000 Oaks winner Love Divine as well as an Aldebaran half-brother to his 2007 Oaks winner Light Shift and fellow Group One winner Shiva, out of Lingerie.

The Aldebaran colt is one of six horses engaged by the Niarchos family, who also have two Storm Cat colts entered in training with Pascal Bary, one being named Yangon out of Shiva and the other the first foal of Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Six Perfections.

Her Majesty The Queen came closest to Derby victory in her coronation year of 1953 when Aureole chased home the Sir Gordon Richards-ridden Pinza. She has five colts engaged including Pied Piper, a homebred Pivotal youngster out of the 2001 Oaks runner-up Flight Of Fancy.

The latter is one of 22 entries trained by Sir Michael Stoute, who also has a brother to Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Islington and a son of 1998 Oaks winner Shatoush, by Fusaichi Pegasus.

All in all, five Oaks winners have sons entered for the 2009 Derby, with Brian Meehan training a Giant’s Causeway colt out of 1996 heroine Lady Carla.

Irish handler John Oxx has 14 entries in his care including a colt named Sea The Stars by Cape Cross out of Urban Sea, making him a half-brother to 2001 Derby victor Galileo and the Oaks placed fillies All Too Beautiful and Melikah.

Khalid Abdullah has seen his colours carried to victory in the Derby on two occasions thanks to Quest For Fame (1990) and Commander In Chief (1993). The Saudi prince has five entries in the list this time, including a Dansili half-brother to Group One winner Passage Of Time, a Dalakhani colt out of Group Two winner Daring Miss and a Galileo colt out of Ebor winner Tuning.

Sir Mark Prescott, who enjoyed his first Classic success with Confidential Lady in the 2006 Prix de Diane, has 11 entries, including a Rock Of Gibraltar colt out of his Group Three winner Humouresque.

Michael Bell and the Royal Ascot Racing Club tasted Derby victory with Motivator in 2005 and they team up again with an Anabaa youngster.

Irish handler Jim Bolger saddled Jet Ski Lady to win the 1991 Oaks and has trained the past two European champion two-year-olds, Teofilo and New Approach, with the latter being the current ante-post favourite for the 2008 Derby. He has eight 2009 Derby entries in his charge, including four sired by 2001 Derby winner Galileo.

Last season’s winning trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam has four entries in his yard including a Galileo colt for Authorized’s owners Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar.

The only filly entered is Sandy Alexander’s Greenbank Destiny, who is by Tobougg out of Sea Isle.

The 2009 Derby, run over a mile and a half, will be worth at least £1,250,000. There is a second entry option on April 7, 2009.