Dubai: Beaverbrook and Prince Of Arran, a duo of Epsom Derby (G1) hopefuls with Dubai connections, put their big race credentials to the test when they travel to the historic racecourse on Wednesday to contest a notable trial for the blue riband race, which takes place on June 4.
Run over the same course, but a shorter trip (2,000m) as compared to the Derby (2,400m), the trial guarantees the winner a direct entry to the race.
Both Beaverbrook and Prince of Arran do not hold existing entries for the showpiece and will need to come up with something special in order to prove to their respective owners that they are worth being supplemented at a fee of £75,000 (Dh391,000).
Interestingly, only two among Saturday’s nine contenders, including the Aidan O’Brien-trained Claudio Monteverdi and Hughie Morrison’s Top Break, hold existing entries with the former a 14-1 chance and the latter a 100-1 outsider.
However, both Beaverbrook, owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and the Saeed Bel Obaida’s Prince of Arran, have impressed their handlers who are hoping to see them deliver strong performance in the trial.
Beaverbrook, in particular, has already been exposed at a high level where he has produced some encouraging efforts in Group races, none more notable than his fourth place behind Godolphin’s Buratino in the Coventry Stakes (G3) at Royal Ascot last summer.
The leading contender on Saturday is Claudio Monteverdi, who represents five-time Derby winning handler Aidan O’Brien.
The regally name colt was an impressive winner over a mile at Leopardstown earlier this month and O’Brien told the Racing Post on Monday: “My daughter Ana rode Claudio Monteverdi this morning and she’s pleased with him. We also had entered Deauville and Unicorn for the race but he will be our only runner in it.
“He’s been good since Leopardstown and we are looking forward to stepping him up in distance. Ryan [Moore] felt the ground wouldn’t be too bad at Epsom for him.”
John Gosden also looks to have a strong hand with the filly So Mi Dar, who already holds an entry for the Epsom Oaks. A daughter of high-class middle-distance mare Dar Re Mi she has won her only start to date at Windsor last October.
The Epsom Derby is the one race that every owner, trainer and jockey wants to win and boasts an matchless roll of honour with several legendary winners such as Seabird, Nijinsky, Mill Reef, Shergar, Galileo and Golden Horn, who triumphed twelve months ago.
