The three-year-old colt, who had only won his maiden at The Curragh a week before, blazed the trail from exiting the stalls, with the combination never being headed in the race.

“I couldn’t hear a thing,” admitted McNamara, “I could just hear the horse breathing, he was in a good rhythm, he was relaxed. I couldn’t hear a thing around me, I didn’t want to be looking, I wasn’t aware of it, I knew I was a few clear alright. I knew I wasn’t after going a million miles an hour, so I was imagining they were ignoring me a small bit and I was just hoping that the clock in my own head was working a little bit, because I thought I had saved enough in the first half of the race going up the hill, I didn’t think I had gone mad, I thought I had enough to get home and thankfully I did.”

“It is unbelievable,” admitted the former Irish champion apprentice jockey, “a huge amount of thanks and gratitude to Aidan O’Brien and all his family – I have spent a fantastic six years there – and to all the owners who have shown a bit of faith in me today. I really appreciate it.”

The thirty-year-old rider, who became the fourth jockey to win the Epsom Derby in the colours of Sue Magnier, daughter of the legendary trainer Dr Vincent O’Brien, said of the race:

“I think I got a little bit of a freebie! I had a huge amount of confidence in the horse having spoken to Aidan during the week. He filled me with confidence and said that he is a horse that is going to stay a mile and six furlongs for you well. He said jump, go your own tempo, from halfway after you give him a breather from the six to the five, you keep building to that winning post, he will keep going. God, he was right!”

McNamara stressed the importance of his discussion with record-breaking trainer, Aidan O’Brien:

“The only thing I would say in that regard is that Aidan O’Brien filled me with a huge amount of confidence, so it’s not a complete surprise. He said that if things worked out well, he was one horse who could win the Derby. He instilled that into me and I actually did believe him, because when that man tells you something about a horse, if he tells you that the sky is green, you’d believe him.”

The jockey, who had just won the biggest race of his career, was quick to praise all those involved in the preparation of Serpentine, stating:

“I have ridden the horse in a few bits of work, but the girl who led him up, does a fantastic job with him riding out, and Aidan O’Brien is happy enough to leave the people who are doing a fantastic job on them, on them, so the likes of Séamus (Heffernan), Ryan (Moore) and myself just get to sit on them sometimes in work, and then obviously on racedays as well. There is a background team of staff there who are extremely capable riders and do a fantastic job.”

Asked in the post-race press conference if it was correct that he hadn’t ridden a winner since October last year, the Accounting and Finance graduate laughed, and said:

“I’ve been saving myself! Things are very tough in Ireland in terms of getting rides, and I am at Aidan’s every morning of the week so I am not going here, there and everywhere to ride out. I am not the lightest guy in the world, but thankfully Aidan knows I am riding out every day and I am fit as a fiddle, or I like to think I am, so when a race like this pops up and he has got a few extra runners in it, thankfully he seems to give me a couple of spins, and I am extremely grateful to both him and the owners for showing their faith in me, having not been riding on a consistent basis.”

Discussing the importance of a victory like this to someone who grew up in a racing household, being the son of trainer Eric McNamara, the jockey said:

“When you are born in racing and you are coming up, you are always dreaming of these races and you think that they are possible, but it’s only when you actually start riding against these guys, different professionals, that you realise just how hard it is to win the likes of these races, and whatever ability you have, if you don’t get on the horses, you’ve absolutely no chance. I was lucky I got on the horse – there are a thousand other lads in that weighing room that are far more talented than me, but they didn’t ride Serpentine in the Derby today. I am very lucky to get on him.”

Emmet McNamara added:

“I was impressed by Serpentine’s performance in his last race (he won a maiden at the Curragh on June 27) and Wayne (Lordan) went a good gallop on him all the way. He clocked a time that was four seconds quicker than the Group Three on the card, so it was a good performance. One of my mates, Gary Carroll, had pulled up at the winning line at the racecourse that day and said he ran out to the winning line and nearly out to the board – he said he was an extremely impressive winner of a maiden having gone a good gallop, so while I’m obviously surprised to win the Derby, it wasn’t a huge, huge surprise.”

He had been deemed unfortunate by many observers to have finished second in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby the previous weekend, and when asked on Saturday at Epsom whether he thought his chance of winning a Derby had gone, McNamara replied:

“Luckily when you are in Aidan’s, you have the chance of getting on this type of horse at different stages through the years that you are there, so I didn’t think when I pulled up the other day, ‘that’s it, gone forever’, but there is a sense of, this is a funny year where we’re running horses that we’re not 100% sure where we stand with them, whereas by this time of year normally they might be a bit better sorted out and I might be on a slightly lesser one that isn’t as unexposed as this one coming here today. I thought myself a couple of weeks ago that this could possibly be a big year, just with the way things worked out, and that is the way it is after working out – second in an Irish Derby and to win an English is unbelievable. I can’t imagine it will ever happen again, so I’m going to try to savour it while I can.”

Referring yet again to the advice of Aidan O’Brien, McNamara stated:

“Aidan said, down to the halfway you can go a nice, even tempo, but make sure from the six to the five to get a little breather into him, so I just sat, sat, sat, six down to the five, and from there let him fill himself up and let him slide along there. From the five I was stepping up on it a little bit all the way to the line. It’s a difficult camber for an inexperienced horse like that and I probably should have switched my stick into my left hand, but I had visions of ending up in the grandstand if I did that, so I was probably a bit hard on it with my right hand, try to keep him straight, and he just got a little bit unbalanced. It was my fault – I should have helped the horse a little bit more, given that he’s a balanced horse, by Galileo out of an Oaks second (Remember When), he’s bred in the purple and he ran all the way to the line. He could run in the Leger! He’s classy.”

Following his successful trip to Epsom on Saturday, the Investec Derby-winning jockey will now have to self isolate on his return to Ireland. When asked about having to do this, the Limerick-born jockey said wryly:

“I would take 14 months quarantine for this! I am sure I’ll be OK. Maybe I will watch replays!”

The post “I had a huge amount of confidence in Serpentine” admits Emmet McNamara appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

With Ballydoyle often criticised when their perceived outsider wins a big race, O’Brien explained that all the Coolmore partners-owned horses are in a big race on merit:

“We discuss each horse and try and give every horse the best chance in the race and we ride them all accordingly.”

Speaking of the riding tactics for last Saturday’s race, the Wexford-native said:

“Emmet gave him a brilliant ride. He judged the pace really well. He was a horse who was going to get every yard of the mile and a half. Emmet was happy to go the front on his horse with his horse having won from the front the last day and William (Buick, third Amhrán Na Bhfiann) was happy to also go forward if he was able. It was exactly the way it was. Wayne Lordan rode Serpentine the last day and he won it very impressively. He ran through to the line over a mile and a quarter at The Curragh and to do that, you have to be very good and have class and that is what he did really.”

He admitted that he watched the Investec Derby at home, accompanied by his wife, Annemarie, daughters Sarah and Ana, and his youngest son, Donnacha, who according to the winning trainer “… mentioned at around five furlongs out that he thought Emmet would win here. He was very comfortable and there was no-one going to challenge him and he wasn’t going to stop.”

Despite the continued success the multiple Classic-winning handler has experienced over the last two decades, Aidan O’Brien and his family continue to enjoy and appreciate the big days:

“We are so delighted. We are in a very privileged position to have such unbelievable horses and such unbelievably well-bred horses,” he says, before continuing “we are working with special people. It is a position very few people will ever get into. The horses have such incredible pedigrees, top and bottom. There are so many special people involved and everyone puts their heart and soul into it day in, day out. Everyone loves what they do and we really appreciate every opportunity that we get and how grateful we are to everyone for what they do. It is just very special for us to be part of such a special team of people.”

He emphasized the importance of the team effort at Ballydoyle, where everyone plays a role in the success of the horses:

“Every race and all those big races, it is incredibly satisfying when they do win for everybody. There are so many links in the chain from when the mare is covered and then conceived. There are so many people involved all the way up to the present time. We have so many special people here in the finishing stage. You never really expect anything, and you just hope and do your best and try to get a good result.”

Discussing having a race run at the correct pace to suit his horses, O’Brien explains:

“If it is a mile and a half race, we try and have it run at a mile and a half pace and whatever. We can then go forward from that and make a plan and that is always the best outcome for everybody.”

Turning to the surprise winner of the Investec Derby at 25/1, Aidan O’Brien comments:

“We always thought he would stay very well. He would have no problem getting the Leger trip. He is by Galileo and from a Dylan Thomas family. I would imagine he would have no problem getting the trip if that is what the lads decide to do. He stays very well. I don’t think he would have a problem with soft ground in the autumn in an Arc. This horse has a little bit of knee action and on his pedigree, he would handle slower ground in something like an Arc.”

When asked if he was disappointed at not being present for his history-making victory on Epsom Downs, O’Brien admits:

“Obviously, we would love to be there, but we are lucky to be racing. Everyone is communicating well. We had a good meeting before the racing. Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith are in Barbados along with Sue and John Magnier in Ireland. Everyone is on the call and with Zoom it is easy for us to chat. We would love to be there …  but it is something we can’t do …”

One person who was present at Epsom on Saturday was Paul Smith, son of part-owner Derrick Smith. Paul Smith said of Serpentine:

“We always knew Serpentine would stay, and that he would bowl along in front, and if they came to catch him he wouldn’t fall into a hole – we knew that. He quickened away well and put it to bed quite nicely, didn’t he? Going round Tattenham Corner, I thought it would take a very good horse to peg him back.”

Smith noted the amazing achievement of the Coolmore partners’ trainer, stating:

“It’s incredible (that Aidan O’Brien has now recorded eight Investec Derby wins). Aidan really is a genius – it’s a word that has been used before, but we know he is. He gets his horses so right and works with the pedigrees so well. Aidan is just so, so good at getting these horses ready for big races.”

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The 25-1 shot took an early lead in the 1m 4 furlong Group 1 and didn’t see a rival over the Epsom Downs as the inexperienced son of Galileo gave his trainer Aidan O’Brien an eighth win in the race, making him the winning-most trainer in Epsom Derby history.

O’Brien previously won the race with Galileo (2001), High Chapparal (2002), Camelot (2012), Ruler Of The World (2013), Australia (2014), Wings Of Eagles (2017) and last year with Anthony Van Dyck.

The history-making trainer said of Serpentine’s surprise Investec Derby win:

“We are so delighted. We are in a very privileged position to have such unbelievable horses and such unbelievably well-bred horses. We are working with special people. It is a position very few people will ever get into. The horses have such incredible pedigrees, top and bottom. There are so many special people involved and everyone puts their heart and soul into it day in, day out. Everyone loves what they do and we really appreciate every opportunity that we get and how grateful we are to everyone for what they do. It is just very special for us to be part of such a special team of people.”

Other outsiders, Khalifa Star (50/1), who was in second position throughout the race, finished as runner-up, while O’Brien’s maiden, Amhrán na Bhfiann (66/1) finished in third place.

The Qipco 2000 Guineas winner Kameko (5/2f), under Kerry jockey Oisín Murphy, was fourth ahead of the Lingfield Derby trial winner, English King (100/30), while the Ryan Moore-ridden Mogul, perceived by many to have been the Ballydoyle number one, came home in sixth place.

The winning rider, 30-year-old Emmet McNamara, having his first ride in the Investec Derby, said of Serpentine’s victory:

“I think I got a little bit of a freebie! I had a huge amount of confidence in the horse having spoken to Aidan during the week. He filled me with confidence and said that he is a horse that is going to stay a mile and six furlongs for you well. He said jump, go your own tempo, from halfway after you give him a breather from the six to the five, you keep building to that winning post, he will keep going. God, he was right!”

McNamara was one of seven first-time jockeys in the race today and becomes the third first-time jockey to win the Investec Derby this century following Mickael Barzalona and Pádraig Beggy, both of whom also won on Cooolmore partners-owned colts, Pour Moi (2011) and Wings Of Eagles (2017) respectively.

Paul Smith, son of one of the Coolmore partners, Derrick Smith, was generous in his praise for the successful rider, saying:

“I am so pleased for Emmet McNamara, he is a big part of the team back at Ballydoyle. He got chinned in the Irish Derby a week or so back, he works so hard for us, no disrespect to the other jockeys, but I am delighted for him.”

Galileo is now the most successful Investec Derby sire of all time with five winners following Serpentine’s win on Saturday. His other scorers were New Approach (2008), Ruler Of The World (2013), Australia (2014) & Anthony Van Dyck (2019).

The 241st Investec Derby (Group 1)

4.55pm, Epsom Downs, Saturday, 4 July, 2020. 1m 4f 6y. £500,000 Total Prize Fund. 

1 (12) Serpentine (IRE) (Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 Emmet McNamara 25/1

2 (14) Khalifa Sat (IRE) (Ahmad Al Shaikh) Andrew Balding 3-9-00 Tom Marquand 50/1

3 (5) Amhran Na Bhfiann (IRE) (Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 William Buick 66/1

4 (11) Kameko (USA) (Qatar Racing Limited) Andrew Balding 3-9-00 Oisín Murphy 5/2 Fav

5 (1) English King (FR) (Bjorn Nielsen) Ed Walker 3-9-00 Frankie Dettori 100/30

6 (2) Mogul (Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 Ryan Moore 7/1

7 (6) Russian Emperor (IRE) (Laurie Macri/Sue Magnier et al) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 Séamie Heffernan 6/1

8 (8) Vatican City (IRE) (Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 Pádraig Beggy 17/2

9 (16) Gold Maze (The Long Wait Partnership) Jessica Harrington IRE 3-9-00 David Egan 150/1

10 (13) Highland Chief (IRE) (Fitri Hay) Paul & Oliver Cole 3-9-00 Ben Curtis 20/1

11 (3) Pyledriver (K & W Bloodstock Limited & Roger Devlin) William Muir 3-9-00 Martin Dwyer 16/1

12 (15) Mohican Heights (IRE) (Sun Bloodstock SARL) David Simcock 3-9-00 Andrea Atzeni 25/1

13 (10) Mythical (FR) (Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 James Doyle 100/1

14 (7) Max Vega (IRE) (The Pickford Hill Partnership) Ralph Beckett 3-9-00 Harry Bentley 33/1

15 (4) Emissary (Khalid Abdullah) Hugo Palmer 3-9-00 Jim Crowley 40/1

16 (9) Worthily (USA) (George Strawbridge) John Gosden 3-9-00 Martin Harley 40/1

16 ran
Time: 2m 34.43s
Distances: 5½, ½, nose, nk, ¾, 1¼, ½, 2¼, 2¾, ½, ½, ½, nk, 2¼, 75.

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10 years ago – 2010

Workforce became the first colt to be beaten in the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York and go on to win the Investec Derby. The son of King’s Best sets a new course record of 2m 31.33s (which still stands) as he came home seven lengths clear. It was third Derby win for owner Prince Khalid Abdullah, a fifth for trainer Michael Stoute and a first for jockey Ryan Moore. Later in the season, Workforce would win Europe’s premier all-aged middle distance race, the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

20 years ago – 2000

Sinndar becomes the first Irish-trained Derby winner for 16 years as he gets the better of Sakhee by a length in a thrilling finish. It is a fourth Derby success for owner H H Aga Khan IV and a first for trainer John Oxx and jockey Johnny Murtagh. Sinndar is unbeaten for the rest of 2000, taking the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Tromphe.

30 years ago – 1990

Prince Khalid Abdullah’s colours are carried to success for the first time as Quest For Fame comes out on top. It is also a first Derby victory for trainer Roger Charlton. Charlton began training in 1990, having taken over from Jeremy Tree. Charlton had saddled Prix du Jockey Club hero Sanglamore just three days’ earlier. It was a third and final Derby win for arguably Ireland’s greatest ever flat jockey, Pat Eddery.

40 years ago – 1980

Trainer Dick Hern and jockey Willie Carson won the 1979 Derby with Troy and followed up a year later in 1980 with Henbit. Henbit is a second Derby hero for owner Etti Plesch, making her the first woman to own two Epsom Derby winners. Plesch was previously successful with Psidium in 1961.

50 years ago – 1970

Nijinsky was the impressive winner for owner Charles Engelhard, trainer Vincent O’Brien (the third of his six Derby wins) and jockey Lester Piggott (the fifth of his record nine Derby victories). The son of Northern Dancer had previously won the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and became the 15th colt to win the English Triple Crown as he takes the St Leger at Doncaster in September. Nijinsky goes on to a highly successful career at stud, siring Derby winners Golden Fleece, Shahrastani and Lammtarra.

The post Investec Derby Milestones in 2020 appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The event will be equally unprecedented in its format, taking place on just one single day, Saturday 4^th July 2020. The day will consist of seven races including the historic fillies’ Classic the Group 1 Investec Oaks, and the feature race the Group 1 Investec Derby.

General Manager of Epsom Downs Racecourse, Simon Durrant said:

“We are delighted that the Investec Derby can go ahead at its unique home course. Indeed, this will be the first time both the Oaks and Derby races take place on the same day, with both set to feature highly competitive fields.

The Investec Derby, seen as a supreme challenge for three-year-olds over the unique undulating Epsom Downs track, has a hugely illustrious roll of honour, which includes Bay Middleton, Ormonde, Isinglass, Hyperion and Bahram, while the last 50 years alone have seen such luminaries as Sea-Bird, Nijinsky, Mill Reef, Shergar, Nashwan, Generous, Lammtarra, Galileo, High Chaparral, New Approach, Sea The Stars and Golden Horn.

Such names contribute to the Derby’s rich history, partly through their outstanding performances at Epsom but also, for some, through their legacy as top stallions.

Galileo, European champion sire in 2008 thanks mainly to his Investec Derby winner New Approach and Coronation Cup victor Soldier Of Fortune and again from 2010 to 2019 inclusive demonstrated his prowess over the course as recently as 2001. Galileo has since sired a joint-record four winners of the Investec Derby, most recently Anthony Van Dyck last year.

For the sixth year, commemorative Investec Derby caps will be presented to jockeys who are having their debut ride in the Classic.

The caps were unveiled in 2015, with the first ever Investec Derby cap being specially presented to nine-time Derby-winning jockey Lester Piggott.

Irish jockey Chris Hayes made his investec Derby debut last year and finished second on Madhmoon for trainer Kevin Prendergast.

A number of jockeys will have their first ride in the Investec Derby on Saturday, including this season’s All-Weather champion Ben Curtis, multiple Group 1-winning rider Martin Harley, plus rising stars David Egan and Tom Marquand.

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Aidan O’Brien is the joint most successful trainer in the history of the race with seven wins. He has six chances on Saturday to become the outright winning-most handler in the 1m 4f race’s history.

O’Brien’s first success in the race came with Galileo in 2001 and he quickly followed up the next year with High Chaparral. The Wexford-born handler then had to wait a decade before taking his third victory; this came in 2012 with Camelot. He tasted success in the race for the two years that followed, with Ruler Of The World (2013) and Australia (2014), making him the first trainer to win the Investec Derby three times in succession. Wings Of Eagles was a big-priced outside for the Ballydoyle trainer when he won for Pádraig Beggy in 2017, while last year Anthony Van Dyck gave O’Brien his seventh race win.

The Master of Ballydoyle has also saddled the first and second in the Investec Derby, having done so most recently with Wings Of Eagles and Cliffs Of Moher in 2017. He had previously achieved the feat with High Chaparral and Hawk Wing in 2002.

Aidan O’Brien has saddled an incredible 85 runners in the Investec Derby, having run a record eight horses in the 2007 edition of the race. Despite this, his best result that year was second with Eagle. Last year, saddled seven runners with Anthony Van Dyck capturing the 240th running of the premier Classic, and this year he saddles six.

His son Joseph became the first son of a trainer, who sent out the Investec Derby winner, to be the successful jockey in 2012, partnering Camelot, trained by his father Aidan, at the age of 19. He repeated the feat in 2014 on Australia, also trained by his dad. Joseph retired from race riding, with an overall record of two Investec Derby wins from five rides in the premier Classic, and started training in 2016. Joseph had his first Investec Derby runner as a trainer with Rekindling, 16th in 2017.

Joseph’s brother and sister, Donnacha and Ana O’Brien, rode in the 2017 Investec Derby. Donnacha came home 12th on Venice Beach, while Ana finished 17th on The Anvil, with both horses trained by their father.

In 2013, seven of the first eight home, led by Ruler Of The World, were trained overseas. This feat was also achieved in 2019, where seven of the first eight home were all trained in Ireland, six of those by Aidan O’Brien, including the winner Anthony Van Dyck.

If any of the Aidan O’Brien horses win on Saturday, he will again create another piece of Epsom Derby history as the winning-most trainer in the 241-year history of the premier Classic – few would bet against the Co. Tipperary-based handler doing so.

The post Strong Aidan O’Brien links to the Epsom Derby appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The shortest-priced of the 18 odds-on winners of the Investec Derby was Ladas at 2/9 in 1894.

Camelot was the latest odds-on favourite to succeed at 8/13 in 2012.

There have been 15 odds-on Derby favourites who were beaten, the most recent was Saxon Warrior, who was fourth at 4/5 to Masar in 2018.

The shortest-priced losing market leader was Surefoot, fourth at 40/95 in 1890.

The longest-priced Derby favourite was Ki Ming, who started at 9/1 and came home 12th of the 33 runners in 1951, while the winning Derby favourite with the highest price was Lavandin at 7/1 in 1956.

The Investec Derby is usually won by a fancied horse and, since 1970, the Classic has gone to the favourite on 17 occasions.

The longest starting price returned for a Derby winner is 100/1, which has been seen three times thanks to Jeddah in 1898, Signorinetta in 1908 and Aboyeur, after the disqualification of the 6/4 favourite Craganour, in 1913.

The biggest outsider to triumph since the Second World War was Psidium at 66/1 in 1961.

The longest-priced placed horse in the Derby was 500/1 shot Terimon, runner-up in 1989.

The Investec Derby is the highest betting turnover Flat race for bookmakers in Britain.

How the Epsom Derby favourites have done since 2000

2019 Sir Dragonet 11/4 5th
2018 Saxon Warrior 4/5 4th
2017 Cracksman 7/2 3rd
2016 US Army Ranger 7/2 2nd
2015 GOLDEN HORN 13/8 WON
2014 AUSTRALIA 11/8 WON
2013 Dawn Approach 5/4 12th
2012 CAMELOT 8/13 WON
2011 Carlton House 5/2 3rd
2010 Jan Vermeer 9/4 4th
2009 Fame And Glory 9/4 2nd
2008 Casual Conquest 7/2 3rd
2007 AUTHORIZED 5/4 WON
2006 Visindar 2/1 5th
2005 MOTIVATOR 3/1 WON
2004 NORTH LIGHT 7/2 jt WON
Snow Ridge 7/2 jt 7th
2003 Refuse To Bend 11/4 13th
2002 Hawk Wing 9/4 2nd
2001 GALILEO 11/4 jt WON
         Golan 11/4 jt 2nd
2000 Beat Hollow 7/2 3rd

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English King, the mount of Frankie Dettori, marked himself down as a live contender for the race with an impressive success in the Listed Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield Park on 5th June. Though 17 Investec Derby favourites have triumphed in the race since 1970, no horse has won from English King’s stall 1 since starting stalls were introduced for the race in 1967.

Trainer Ed Walker, ahead of his first runner in the Investec Derby, said:

“I am massively excited by English King and I would not swap him for anything else. I know that sounds mad with a Guineas winner [Kameko] in the field, but I wouldn’t. I always vowed that I would not run a horse in the Derby if he didn’t deserve his place. I think he will have learnt a lot at Lingfield and hopefully he can cruise round Tattenham Corner.”

English King’s chief danger according to the betting market is Qipco 2000 Guineas winner Kameko, the mount of Kerry-born Oisín Murphy. Similar to English King, Kameko is drawn in a stall (11) from which a horse has never won the Epsom Derby. The record of Qipco 2000 Guineas winners in the Investec Derby is mixed with only Sea The Stars (2009) and Camelot (2012) completing the Newmarket 2000 Guineas-Epsom Derby double in the last 30 years.

Aidan O’Brien is bidding for a record breaking eighth Investec Derby victory, with five of his seven wins in the race having come since 2012. The master of Ballydoyle has six horses in the field, with jockey Ryan Moore choosing to rider Mogul. The Irish-based jockeys will travel to England to ride for the first time this season, with Séamie Heffernan on Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes winner Russian Emperor, while former Epsom Derby-winning jockey Pádraig Beggy will take the mount on Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Vatican City. Mythical will be the mount of James Doyle, Curragh maiden winner Serpentine will have the assistance of Emmet McNamara in the saddle, while William Buick will ride Amhrán na Bhfiann. How ironic it is that both Godolphin jockeys, James Doyle and William Buick, are riding Coolmore-owned horses in the most prestigious flat race of the season.

Russian Emperor is one of three Royal Ascot winners in the field alongside William Muir’s Pyledriver (Martin Dwyer) and Highland Chief, a first ride in the race for Irish jockey Ben Curtis. Pyledriver had Mohican Heights (Andrea Atzeni) and Mogul behind him when landing the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes, while Highland Chief defied top weight to win the Golden Gates Handicap.

Kameko’s stablemate Khalifa Sat (Tom Marquand) and Emissary (Jim Crowley) meet again, after the pair were separated by a neck in the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood on 14th June.

John Gosden, twice winner of the Investec Derby, saddles the once-raced Newbury maiden scorer Worthily (Martin Harley), a three-parts sibling to Lucarno, who was fourth in the 2007 Epsom Derby before going on to take the Doncaster St Leger.

The 16 runners are completed by Group 3 Zetland Stakes winner Max Vega (Harry Bentley) and Jessica Harrington’s Gold Maze (David Egan), who finished sixth in last weekend’s Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh.

The 241st Investec Derby (Group 1)

4.55pm, Epsom Downs, Saturday, 4 July, 2020. 1m 4f 6y. £500,000 Total Prize Fund.

Stalls number in brackets.

1) (5) Amhran Na Bhfiann (IRE) (Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 William Buick

2) (4) Emissary (Khalid Abdullah) Hugo Palmer 3-9-00 Jim Crowley

3) (1) English King (FR) (Bjorn Nielsen) Ed Walker 3-9-00 Frankie Dettori

4) (16) Gold Maze (The Long Wait Partnership) Jessica Harrington IRE 3-9-00 David Egan

5) (13) Highland Chief (IRE) (Fitri Hay) Paul & Oliver Cole 3-9-00 Ben Curtis

6) (11) Kameko (USA) (Qatar Racing Limited) Andrew Balding 3-9-00 Oisín Murphy

7) (14) Khalifa Sat (IRE) (Ahmad Al Shaikh) Andrew Balding 3-9-00 Tom Marquand

8) (7) Max Vega (IRE) (The Pickford Hill Partnership) Ralph Beckett 3-9-00 Harry Bentley

9) (2) Mogul (Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 Ryan Moore

10) (15) Mohican Heights (IRE) (Sun Bloodstock SARL) David Simcock 3-9-00 Andrea Atzeni

11) (10) Mythical (FR) (Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 James Doyle

12) (3) Pyledriver (K & W Bloodstock Limited & Roger Devlin) William Muir 3-9-00 Martin Dwyer

13) (6) Russian Emperor (IRE) (Laurie Macri/Sue Magnier et al) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 Séamie Heffernan

14) (12) Serpentine (IRE) (Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 Emmet McNamara

15) (8) Vatican City (IRE) (Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 Pádraig Beggy

16) (9) Worthily (USA) (George Strawbridge) John Gosden 3-9-00 Martin Harley

The post The 241st Investec Derby at Epsom appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Though the Ballydoyle handler had initially suggested Santiago could go next for the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster, speaking to Nick Luck on Racing TV this morning, O’Brien suggested he could instead turn out in the Investec Derby at Epsom next Saturday.

The 14-times winning trainer of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby said:

“It’s very possible (those that ran in Irish Derby could run at Epsom). I spoke to John (Magnier), Michael (Tabor) and Derrick (Smith), the entries are made on Monday so we’ll see what everybody thinks today and tomorrow whether they decide to make an entry or not.”

O’Brien continued:

“We’ll see what they want to do, but it’s not impossible. We’ll see what other horses are going to Epsom. It was unconventional to run them so soon after Ascot, but they came out of the race well and that is why they ran. Nothing is definitely ruled out.”

The Ballydoyle handler also said that Mythical and Amhrán na Bhfiann were in contention for Epsom, along with Russian Emperor, Mogul and Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas second Vatican City. Armory was also mentioned as a possible runner in either the Epsom Derby or the French equivalent.

In discussing possible runners in the Investec Oaks, Aidan O’Brien said that both Qipco 1000 Guineas winner Love and Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas victor Peaceful were both currently being aimed at Epsom, but both may not partake in the Epsom Group 1. He stated that both Ennistymon and Passion, second and third in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot last week, are also possibilities.

The post Aidan O’Brien discusses his Epsom plans appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

O’Brien has confirmed that star mare Magical, a daughter of Galileo, may make her seasonal debut in the Pretty Polly Stakes at The Curragh on 28^th June instead of making a trip to Royal Ascot:

“Magical is back in training and I think she might be entered in the Prince of Wales’s, but it’s possible she might not start until the Pretty Polly. We were lucky the lads agreed they would leave her for the year. She’s only five this year and she’s done very well physically.”

The Irish champion trainer has hinted that leading Investec Derby contender Mogul may run in the Derrinstown Derby Trial at Leopardstown on 9^th June:

“We are thinking of going to the Derrinstown with Mogul, but obviously these things can change.” O’Brien stated.

Believing his horses with have limited opportunities to run trial races prior to the Investec Derby, O’Brien admits to there being a lot of uncertainty at present regarding some of his other Epsom candidates, among them Amhrán na bhFiann, Arthur’s Kingdom and Mythical:

“A lot of stuff is going to be up in the air. It wouldn’t be a surprise if we had very unexposed horses running in the Derby, along with the more exposed ones.”

Japan, the four-year-old brother of Investec Derby hopeful Mogul, may run at Royal Ascot on 17^th June, according to the Wexford-born trainer:

“With Japan we are thinking of going to the Prince of Wales’s at the moment. Like I say, all these things can change, but I think that’s what we’re thinking at the moment.”

Last year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby victor Sovereign, who has not run since his Classic victory at The Curragh last June, is on the comeback trail and will be aimed at an autumn campaign, according to the Ballydoyle handler.

“Sovereign is back in training,” O’Brien admitted, “he’s done four bits of work back and we’re just trying to go gentle with him and thinking of the autumn with him. He might have a run in the middle of the summer, but that’s what we’re trying to do, aim him at an autumn campaign.”

Kew Gardens, winner of the Long Distance Cup at Ascot last October, looks set to go straight to the Ascot Gold Cup on 18^th June, and is in good form according to his trainer:

“If he’s going to Ascot he’ll go there without a run. He was ready to run in Dubai and we were hoping to go to Leopardstown or Navan, but it’s all been a bit of a mess for him really. The plan then was to give him a little rest and come back to Ascot. We’re hoping to get him to Ascot, he’ll be there without a run and we’ll see how we get on after that.”

Another possible Royal Ascot horse O’Brien spoke about is Monarch Of Egypt. While being unsure as to how far the horse will stay, he did concede:

“We think he could be a Jersey horse and if he’s going to go to Ascot it might be getting a little close running him in the Irish Guineas.”

With regard to the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh on 13^th June, Armory, Fort Myers and Vatican City are also possible contenders for the Group 1:

“Armory would be a strong possible for the Irish Guineas,” the Master of Ballydoyle said, “Fort Myers might well wait for it. Vatican City (a brother to Gleneagles) is doing everything right. He’s a little bit heavy still but is a possible to start off in the Irish Guineas.”

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