Dubai: The supporting Group 1 highlight on Investec Derby Day on Saturday is the £375,000 (Dh2.1 million) Investec Coronation Cup staged over the same mile-and-a-half course as the Classic itself.
There are seven confirmations for the prestigious contest, which is for four-year-olds and upwards.
Dolniya (Alain de Royer Dupre FR) is the 11/10 favourite with Coral following an impressive victory over Flintshire (Andre Fabre FR) in the Group One Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan on March.
Flintshire is out to reverse the Dubai form with Dolniya and also go better one better at Epsom Downs, having finished second to Cirrus des Aigles in the 2014 Investec Coronation Cup.
Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to Flintshire’s owner Khalid Abdullah, reported on Thursday: “Flintshire is also coming over for the Coronation Cup. It looks like he could meet Dolniya again, although I think reversing the form with her will be easier said than done.”
Aidan O’Brien has trained more winners of the Investec Coronation Cup than any other trainer in history, with seven successes in total.
He has left in four-year-old filly Tapestry (5/1), successful in the Group One Yorkshire Oaks last season.
Last year’s Investec Derby third Romsdal (John Gosden, 25/1) also goes forward, along with Turkish Group Two scorer Pether’s Moon (Richard Hannon, 16/1), Sheikhzayedroad (David Simcock, 33/1) and Ayrad (Roger Varian, 50/1).
Richest handicap
The richest handicap of the day is the five-furlong £100,000 Investec Corporate Banking ‘Dash’ (3.45pm) staged over the fastest five furlongs in the world. There are 34 contenders for this contest, including last year’s winner Caspian Prince (Tony Carroll, 7/1 joint-favourite).
Investec Derby Day at Epsom Downs features a seven-race card, running from 5.00pm to 9.50pm (UAE time).
