Dubai: Team Godolphin rely on a pair of exciting three-year-olds who are trained on either sides of the English Channel as they bid to win a first Epsom Derby (G1) in 21 years.
Cloth Of Stars is trained in France by Andre Fabre, a qualified lawyer and multiple Classic winner, while Moonlight Magic races out of legendary Irish handler Jim Bolger’s stables in County Kilkenny.
Both Fabre and Bolger have sample success in Britain’s Premier Classic, with Fabre saddling Pour Moi to victory in 2011, while Bolger claimed his slice of Epsom history with New Approach in 2008.
Godolphin, who won the Derby in 1995 with Lammtarra, ridden by Walter Swinburn in the silks of Shaikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, will be seeking a landmark first victory in the team’s trademark royal blue colours.
Godolphin’s retained jockey Mickael Barzalona, who partnered Pou Moi to Derby glory five years ago, takes the ride on Cloth Of Stars, who impressed both rider and trainer following his Epsom spin during Breakfast With the Stars last week.
“Cloth Of Stars handled the track very well today — we did very easy work and I was very pleased with him,” said the Frenchman.
“In France, most of the tracks are really flat, while at Epsom Tattenham Corner and the undulations make a big difference.
“So I think it was very important for the horse to come and have a look at Epsom,” he added.
“The Investec Derby is a most prestigious race — a really old Classic which is very hard to win. I have the horse to win the Derby again and I will try my best again.”
Bolger said he rates Moonlight Magic as a “good Derby prospect”.
“I would not swap him for anything else in the race. I could not be happier with him,” said Bolger, 75.
“He has the looks, demeanour, balance and temperament to go with his pedigree. There are no holes in this fellow.
“He is a beautifully balanced horse so hopefully he will handle Epsom well,” Bolger added.
“It is a pretty good field for the Derby but if I can get my horse fresh and well on the day then I think he will give a very good account of himself.”
Commenting on the prospects of the two contenders, John Ferguson, Godolphin’s chief executive and racing manager, said at Epsom Downs: “They are two very strong cards to play in what looks a very open Derby. It is very exciting.
“Moonlight Magic is a very exciting horse. He won the Derby trial very well. He is a beautiful horse with a beautiful pedigree.
“He is from the family of Galileo and Sea The Stars and has done everything right as far as I am concerned, and he is trained by a master,” added Ferguson.
“I think he has a really, really strong chance. Jim has made no secret about how highly he rates this horse.
“To ultimately win the Derby in the Godolphin blue with His Highness Shaikh Mohammad [Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai] here would be massive for him and very special for everybody.”
