Wings Of Desire flies into Epsom Derby frame

THEY say fortune favours the brave. So the owners of Minding, So Mi Dar and Galileo Gold may have to “grow a pair” in the next fortnight if they are to achieve the ultimate glory. They have been, to these eyes at least, the three outstanding performers in the Epsom trials. Galileo Gold won the …[Read More]

Dante Stakes preview

AS Epsom Derby trials go, last year’s Dante Stakes at York was as informative as you could get. Golden Horn’s late swoop past Jack Hobbs seemed pretty impressive when it happened but the form was truly vindicated when the pair dominated flat racing’s blue riband itself a few weeks later. This year’s trials have been …[Read More]

Moonlight Magic cut for Epsom Derby success

SUNDAY was a good day for Godolphin. They suddenly have two horses to go to war with in next month’s Epsom Derby, notably MOONLIGHT MAGIC, who won the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown. It was a likeable performance from the son of Cape Cross, although he admittedly got the run of the race after …[Read More]

Epsom Derby: Horn of plenty for Gosden

SO the Epsom Derby plot thickens. We finally have a crystal clear favourite after today’s Dante… but he isn’t even entered for the race! GOLDEN HORN shot to the head of the Derby betting with his impressive display and owner Anthony Oppenheimer now faces the dilemma of whether to fork out the £75,000 to supplement …[Read More]

Epsom Derby Pinstickers’ Guide

SIXTEEN colts will bid for Classic glory in the Epsom Derby over a mile-and-a-half on Saturday. It follows Monday’s five-day confirmation stage. The total prize fund for Britain’s richest race now stands at £1,379,500. Wowzers! Here’s a pinstickers’ guide to this year’s race: Romsdal  (John Gosden): A fast-finishing nose second to Orchestra at Chester and …[Read More]

Ground could scupper Australia in Epsom Derby

THE best horse does not always win the Derby. Dancing Brave and El Gran Senor spring to mind. For varying reasons they came a cropper at Epsom: they both should have won of course but they provide a salutary warning when looking ahead to this year’s race. For many pundits AUSTRALIA is a shoo-in and …[Read More]

Is Dawn Approach unbeatable in Epsom Derby?

THERE are shades of last year in Saturday’s Investec Derby at Epsom. Camelot, on the back of an unbeaten run, brushed aside the opposition with barely concealed contempt in 2012. This year DAWN APPROACH will arrive at the Surrey track never having been toppled on the racecourse. Not only that, but nothing has come close …[Read More]

Epsom Derby hope Libertarian deserves more respect

THE knockers have been out in force since LIBERTARIAN caused a 33/1 surprise in the Dante on Thursday. This is a race that is normally carved up by the big Newmarket stables. But not this time. Libertarian was the first northern-trained winner of the Group 2 race for a very long time. He was also …[Read More]

Famous horses: The Mill Reef story

MILL Reef didn’t look like a champion. He was small: “diminutive” was the usual description. He was also unlucky because he was foaled in the same year as another equine great in Brigadier Gerard. But he was totally brilliant, especially when upped in distance. This Saturday sees the 41st running of the Mill Reef Stakes …[Read More]

A chat with… Willie Ryan

WILLIE RYAN is a UK horse racing legend in my eyes. Why? Well, he produced probably THE best Derby ride in history on Benny The Dip in 1997. And then there was his unstinting loyalty to Sir Henry Cecil during a 20-year association. Willie retired from the saddle in 2004 and I made it my …[Read More]