THE Derby

[Nashwan]

For the past 25 years or so I have backed a horse (once or twice I've backed two) before he's ever stepped foot on the track for the following years Derby. Albeit I have only had limited success, just the three have come off and Lammtarra in 1995 was my most recent success. He was preceded by Commander In Chief and of course (in my eyes) the immortal Nashwan.

I've come close in other years North Light was on my shortlist but ultimately overlooked, Unfuwain was the best 3yo middle distance colt of his generation, Marju who came up against a very good colt in Generous and last but not least the top class Arc winning Sakhee.

More often than not the horse I have taken is owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum and this years offering is no different, Rashaad who runs in the Newmarket Stakes later today. He's available at 66/1 and also 100s+ on the exchanges.

By the impeccably bred and good sire Smart Strike he is bred to stay a mile and a half and could give Barry Hills his long overdue win at Epsom. Infact it's been too long for both Sheikh Hamdan and myself too, so here's hoping for a seasonal debut win for Rashaad to keep the hope alive.

I should mention I took 2 horses for this years race as I have also backed Burj Nahar.

[Nashwan]

After watching that all I can say is come on Burj Nahar.

[powerscourt]

I hope there was something Irish on your list!

[Cesario]

The odds look good right now but I don't mind Azmeel and Bullet Train so far.

[powerscourt]

Jan Vermeer was very impressive on his reappearance at the Curragh on Sunday. It was only a Group 3, but he certainly looked the part and he looks at least as good as his stablemates St Nicholas Abbey, Cape Blanco and Midas Touch. It's hard to see all 4 of them turning up at Epsom, and the word on Sunday was that Jan Vermeer would be the one to side-step Epsom for the French Derby the following day. But it wouldn't surprise me if they changed their mind and sent Cape Blanco instead. Jan Vermeer looks to me to be very much in the mould of a High Chaparral, while St Nicholas Abbey could yet be a Hawk Wing....

[Kennedy]

My Fab 4 at the moment

Jan Vermeer
Cape Blanco
Workforce
Bullet Train

I'll narrow it down further as the race approaches and we get to see the ground and possibly a more updated fitness report on Cape Blanco. He looked great in the Dante and really in all of his starts but the reports on him aren't the most encouraging even with Ballydoyle pronouncing him fit.

Jan Vermeer almost seems to have a High Chaparral type class to him. Perhaps I'm just seeing things but this horse looks like he's got a huge future. I can't believe he isn't favored at the moment. I think he's got much stronger claims than St Nicholas Abbey.

[Kennedy]

[quote author=powerscourt link=topic=42772.msg955572#msg955572 date=1274781196]
Jan Vermeer looks to me to be very much in the mould of a High Chaparral, while St Nicholas Abbey could yet be a Hawk Wing....
[/quote]

Interesting that you got the same impression. I posted my impression without reading your post and it seems like we have a similar viewpoint. There is something oddly "Chaparral-esque" about Jan Vermeer. It will be interesting to see if he can go anywhere close to the heights that O'Brien's Derby and dual BC Turf winner achieved.

[powerscourt]

[quote author=Kennedy link=topic=42772.msg955713#msg955713 date=1274804452]
[quote author=powerscourt link=topic=42772.msg955572#msg955572 date=1274781196]
Jan Vermeer looks to me to be very much in the mould of a High Chaparral, while St Nicholas Abbey could yet be a Hawk Wing....
[/quote]

Interesting that you got the same impression. I posted my impression without reading your post and it seems like we have a similar viewpoint. There is something oddly "Chaparral-esque" about Jan Vermeer. It will be interesting to see if he can go anywhere close to the heights that O'Brien's Derby and dual BC Turf winner achieved.
[/quote]

The money has started to come for Jan Vermeer, indicating he could well end up at Epsom.

I should also point out that I was very impressed by both Cape Blanco (since he made his debut last year) and Midas Touch, who has a fabulous pedigree and recorded a good time in the Derrinstown (always a reliable trial). Both are sure-fire Group 1 winners in the making, and once Ballydoyle hits form (yet to happen), then they could have a very good season.

Watch out too for Remember When, a maiden but 4th in the Irish 1.000 Guineas on Sunday. She might have shades of Peeping Fawn about her...

[Viva Pataca]

[quote author=powerscourt link=topic=42772.msg956106#msg956106 date=1274860680]
Watch out too for Remember When, a maiden but 4th in the Irish 1.000 Guineas on Sunday. She might have shades of Peeping Fawn about her...
[/quote]

The Oaks, not the Derby, right?

[powerscourt]

[quote author=vivapataca link=topic=42772.msg956170#msg956170 date=1274880340]
[quote author=powerscourt link=topic=42772.msg956106#msg956106 date=1274860680]
Watch out too for Remember When, a maiden but 4th in the Irish 1.000 Guineas on Sunday. She might have shades of Peeping Fawn about her...
[/quote]

The Oaks, not the Derby, right?
[/quote]

Right

[Dancing Brave]

Godolphin's Rewilding confirmed for the Derby.

Don't think he'll win but he's impeccably bred (half to Da Re Mi) and won, against admittedly poor oppostion, nicely at Goodwood last week. Dettori will likely ride.

From RP
REWILDING will be supplemented for the Investec Derby, Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford confirmed on Thursday, and will probably be ridden at Epsom on June 5 by Frankie Dettori.

The Tiger Hill colt, who joined new Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni after startingthe campaign with Andre Fabre, made an impressive British debut when landing the Bluesquare.com Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood and is a 10-1 chance with bookmakers.

Crisford, speaking at Epsom's Breakfast with the Stars event on Thursday, said: "We are definitely going to supplement Rewilding. He was very impressive when he won at Goodwood and we think he ticks all the boxes. He has a great temperament, he appears to be bombproof, he definitely stays a mile and a half and he has plenty of class as well.

"The big thing with himis he seems to be improving. He took his race at Goodwood really well, he handled the track and the undulations, so we go into Epsom full of hope."

Crisford said a decision over riding arrangements would emerge after Dettori has ridden the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Al Zir on Friday morning, but the jockey was likely to stick with Rewilding.

"It's quite likely that Frankie will stay on Rewilding," Crisford added. "He gelled really well with him at Goodwood. I think Frankie wants to have a sit on Al Zir anyway tomorrow and after he has ridden him then we will be a little bit wiser."

Crisford said Chabal would be left among the five-day Derby acceptors but would need rain to run, while Simon De Montfort remained more likely to head to the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on June 6.

[Viva Pataca]

Stewards inquiries to be televised live at Derby meeting

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/hor...se-Racing.html

[powerscourt]

From the Racing Post, breaking news. I expect Johnny to ride Jan Vermeer, and he'll start favourite.

Derby favourite Abbey fails to sparkle on gallops

BY TONY O'HEHIR 12:56PM 28 MAY 2010

JOHHNY MURTAGH is to delay a decision on his Investec Derby mount after St Nicholas Abbey, favourite for the Epsom Classic, failed to sparkle on the Ballydoyle gallops on Friday morning.

Speaking at 12.45pm on Friday, trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "Johnny rode St Nicholas Abbey this morning and felt that the colt might not have shown the same sparkle as he did when he rode him on Tuesday morning.

"Consequently, he won't be making up his mind about what he will ride in the Derby until the middle of next week."

[Press The Button]

I am thinking Bullet Train at the moment, but I have not had the time to go through the Derby field proper yet.

[PJMIII]

[quote author=vivapataca link=topic=42772.msg956935#msg956935 date=1274977526]
Stewards inquiries to be televised live at Derby meeting

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/hor...se-Racing.html
[/quote]
This sounds pretty neat.