#Ballysax Stakes

In the words of legendary Italian breeder, Federico Tesio: "The thoroughbred exists because its selection has depended, not on experts, technicians, or zoologists, but on a piece of wood: the winning post of the Epsom Derby." Those comments may not apply to the same extent when it comes to the recent crop of Derby victors, but one thing remains the…

He got off the mark on his racecourse debut in a seven-furlong maiden at the Irish Derby meeting at The Curragh last year, getting home by a whisker in in one of the most exciting finishes of the entire 2021 season. Ger Lyons' colt stepped forward from that on his second and final run last season when he landed the Group 2 KPMG Champions Juvenile…

Broome is fancied to make the bookies bristle by sweeping Aidan O'Brien to a record-equalling seventh Investec Derby win (4.30, ITV). The son of 2014 Epsom hero Australia must give 12 rivals, including six from Ballydoyle, the brush off in order to land the world's greatest Flat race. But he has stepped forward from high-class form at two to…

DESERT CROWN is the choice of the heart and the head to land the 243rd Cazoo-sponsored Derby (4.30) at Epsom, run in memory of the late Lester Piggott. A sixth triumph for Sir Michael Stoute, now 76-years-old and in the autumn of a training career that has captured every big prize Flat racing has to offer, would doubtless be one of the feelgood…

The BMW Hong Kong Derby looks as even as ever but the decision to pick Congratulation ahead of Flagship Glory has raised eyebrows. The three Classic Series contests are some of the only ones in Hong Kong where the fields are decided by a selection panel, which means horses can get in on merit, rather than rating or priority (the Hong Kong…

Gustav Klimt (Ryan Moore, left) runs down Imaging to land the 2000 Guineas Trial Any juice in Gustav Klimt's Qipco 2000 Guineas price evaporated after he galloped through the rain-softened Leopardstown ground en route to winning Saturday's Ballylinch-sponsored trial from Imaging. It was a performance that resulted in the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt…

Star Of India: impressed in Chester's Dee Stakes After a week of trials for the Derby and Oaks, we asked our panel where the value now is for the Epsom Classics? Several Aidan O'Brien Derby contenders were sighted this week and although Changingoftheguard was visually impressive, he had things all his own way, and Star Of India in the Dee…

The $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes drew a field of nine horses, seven of which are stakes winners with five of those entering the race off victories. Leading the field in purse earnings is Tokyo Gold, winner of the Group 2 Derby Italiano Universita Campus Bio-Med in May, otherwise known as the Italian Derby. However, favoritism among…

IT'S been a huge day of drama at Epsom. And Adam Kirby is the toast of Godolphin after a superb ride gave Adayar (16/1) the spoils in the Derby. �� FREE BETS SPECIAL: Get £40 in FREE BETS for this weekend at the Epsom Derby �� BEST BETS: All the bookies' best offers in one place with our betting guide �� DERBY RACECARD: Latest CONFIRMED runners and…

The three-year-old was previously trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien, running four times on the Flat to gain a rating of 102 after winning a Gowran maiden and contesting two Group Three races, including the Ballysax Stakes. Subsequently sold and relocated to Harris' stable in Wiltshire, the bay son of Churchill made his hurdling debut at…

Pat Smullen won his maiden Epsom Derby title on Saturday, riding atop the Dermot Weld-trained Harzand, who overcame an injury scare earlier in the day to win. At 13/2, Harzand finished ahead of Aidan O'Brien duo US Army Ranger-the odds-on favourite-and Idaho. With a purse of £1545000, the 2016 Derby was "the richest race ever run in the UK,"…

Derby favourite Luxembourg has suffered an injury scare in training, leaving a question mark over the colt's participation at Epsom next month. Trainer Aidan O'Brien said the horse, who finished third in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last Saturday, was lame in his off hind leg after exercise on Friday. O'Brien expects to give a further update in…

Memories of great days in Epsom history will come flooding back when Desert Crown bids to give Sir Michael Stoute his sixth victory in the Cazoo Derby. Stoute first won the premier Classic - which is this year being run in memory of Lester Piggott - with the legendary Shergar in 1981 and in the 41 years since has added a further four Epsom…

1pt win Mr Big Stuff in 2.00 Epsom at 9/2 (William Hill, Coral, Ladbrokes) 1pt win Roman Mist in 2.35 Epsom at 8/1 (General) 1pt win Nations Pride in 4.30 Epsom at 15/2 (General) 0.5pts e.w. Westover in 4.30 Epsom at 25/1 (William Hill, BoyleSports 1/5 1,2,3,4) In this week of all weeks when the country celebrates The Queen's Platinum Jubilee, and…

The Starspangledbanner colt ran only three times last season - but made the most of his opportunities by winning the Saratoga Derby and the Cox Plate in Australia on his final two starts. O'Brien is hoping to see the four-year-old reappear in the coming weeks, potentially in France, before bidding for a first Irish Group One success in the…

No horse since Frankel in 2012 has earned a higher rating on turf than the figure of 137 awarded to Baaeed for his outstanding display in the 2022 Juddmonte International at York. Baaeed was a stunning six-and-a-half-length winner of the Knavesmire Group 1 on his first crack at a trip beyond a mile, taking his record to a perfect ten. He had…