 |
|
|
|
| Investec Derby 2011 |
Epsom
Derby
|
Tregoning Has No Stamina Fears as Yaseer Heads to Dante Marcus Tregoning is looking to York’s Dante Stakes as the next test for the lightly-raced Yaseer ahead of a possible tilt at the £1.25 million Group One Investec Derby over a mile and a half at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 4. The Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned Dansili colt won a mile Kempton maiden in December on the second of two juvenile starts, and shaped with promise on his only outing this season when a staying on third to Native Khan in the Group Three Craven Stakes over the same distance at Newmarket. Native Khan franked that form when third to Frankel in the season’s first Classic, the Group One QIPCO 2000 Guineas. The Group Two totesport Dante Stakes, staged over 10 furlongs at York on Thursday, May 12, is one of the premier trials for the Investec Derby with North Light (2004), Motivator (2005) and Authorized (2007) pulling off the Dante/Derby double in the last decade. Last year’s Investec Derby hero, Workforce, became the first horse beaten in the Dante to go on and win the Epsom Downs Classic. Sir Michael Stoute’s charge had finished runner-up to subsequent Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco at York. Tregoning, who won the Derby in 2006 with Sir Percy, revealed today: “I think Yaseer will go to York for the Dante on Thursday. That to me looks like it will be possibly the best trial we have seen so far, looking at some of the main protagonists that are entered there. It could well be the pointer to the Derby itself. “He ran a very good race in the Craven and like I’ve said before, he’s a May 26 foal, which is a bit of a disadvantage but he is catching up fast. We have not overtaxed him to this stage and while the Dante will be tough for him he is in good form - it will give us an idea of the level we are at with him. “Most of this family get a mile and a half standing on their heads - very few don’t. If for some reason they don’t appear to have stayed, I think they probably were not at their best on the day. “You look at a horse like Mawatheeq, he is by Danzig from the same family as Yaseer. Danzig is not an influence for stamina yet Mawatheeq won the Cumberland Lodge Stakes (12 furlongs) by a couple of lengths. I think 10 furlongs to a mile and a half will be no problem for this horse. “We are a long way from the Derby at this moment but he is in good shape and he is a nice horse from a very good family so let’s see what happens.”
Sir Michael Stoute is set to saddle the Queen’s Carlton House, who defeated Yaseer into second place by nine lengths when winning a mile Newbury maiden in October. In-form Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni may run Genius Beast, while Aidan O’Brien has the option to run Alexander Pope, Exodus, Seville and Roderic O’Connor.
RECITAL SHAKES UP INVESTEC DERBY MARKET The Aidan O’Brien-trained Recital took the Group Two Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown on Sunday, May 8, to strengthen his position among the market leaders for the Investec Derby. The Montjeu colt, winner of the Group One Criterium De Saint Cloud last season, defeated stablemate Memphis Tennessee by a length and a half, with another O’Brien charge, Regent Street, in third. O’Brien won the Investec Derby with Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002), who both also landed the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial. The Coolmore partnership of owners Sue Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor have another Investec Derby possible in the Andre Fabre-trained Pour Moi, who was the comfortable winner of the 10-furlong Group Two Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud on May 7.
LINGFIELD OFFERS EPSOM DOWNS CLASSIC CLUES Saturday, May 7, at Lingfield saw the Mick Channon-trained Zain Al Boldan make it three wins from as many starts when enhancing her Classic claims in the Listed Oaks Trial at the Surrey venue. The Poliglote filly stormed to a six-length victory from the John Gosden-trained Field Of Miracles with the Richard Hannon-trained Date With Destiny a further three and a half lengths back in third. Zain Al Boldan is now being aimed at the Group One Investec Oaks at Epsom Downs on Friday, June 3. Channon is seeking a first Classic victory. Also on Saturday at Lingfield, the Mark Johnston-trained pair of Dordogne and Hurricane Higgins fought out the finish to the Group Three Derby Trial, with the former prevailing by half a length. Both would need to be added to the Investec Derby at a cost of £75,000 at the supplementary entry stage on Monday, May 30.
|
