Dubai: A field of sixteen horses, including four with UAE connections, are set to go to post in the 237th renewal of the Epsom Derby (Group 1), Britain’s richest race with a purse of 1.5 million pounds (Dh7.96 million).
The premier Classic takes place at Epsom Downs at 7.30pm (UAE) on Saturday.
Godolphin, who won the race in 1995 with Lammtarra, are represeted by Cloth Of Stars and Moonlight Magic, while Massaat carries the hopes of two-time Derby winning owner Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance.
Dubai businessman, who won the Epsom Classic in 2003 with Kris Kin, bids for a second success with Across The Stars
Aidan O’Brien. a five-time winner of the 2,400 metre contest, is mob-handed with five runners – US Army Ranger (Ryan Moore), Deauville (Jamie Spencer), Idaho (Seamie Heffernan), Port Douglas (Colm O’Donoghue) and Shogun (Donnacha O’Brien).
Another trainer chasing a sixth win in the Derby is Sir Michael Stoute, who will be represented by Ulysses, an impressive Newbury maiden winner and Lingfield Derby Trial third.
A trainer eyeing a first Derby victory is Ed Dunlop who saddles Red Verdon, a horse supplemented for the Classic on Monday at a cost of 75,000 pounds following an impressive victory in a Haydock Park handicap on May 21.
There are seven Irish-trained runners in total. In addition to the Aidan O’Brien-trained quintet, the Group 3 winners Moonlight Magic (Jim Bolger) and Harzand (Dermot Weld) also run.
The lone French-trained raider is Godolphin’s Cloth Of Stars, who represents Andre Fabre, winner of the Classic in 2011 with Pour Moi.
Algometer (David Simcock) and Humphrey Bogart (Richard Hannon) won Listed trials at Goodwood and Lingfield Park respectively while the field is completed by outsider Biodynamic (Karl Burke).
