Desert Crown To Return In Brigadier Gerard at Sandown
Last year’s Epsom Derby winner Desert Crown will be the star attraction at Sandown this Thursday as the Sir Michael Stoute-trained 4 year-old runs in the Bridadier Gerard Stakes.
Desert Crown The Brigadier Gerard Star Attraction At Sandown
It was just under a year ago we last saw Desert Crown on the track when romping away with the Epsom Derby on June 4th 2022.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained 4 year-old suffered a foot injury after taking the big English Classic and had to miss intended runs in the Juddmonte International at York and a possible tilt at the Arc at Longchamp.
However, he’s back this Thursday with an entry in the Group Three Brigadier Gerard Stakes on a cracking evening card at Sandown.
Regular rider Richard Kingscote has been booked to ride and despite his absence of 355-days will be a warm order with the best UK horse racing betting sites to make a winning return and keep his unbeaten record (3-from-3) in tact.
Desert Crown Career In Numbers
- Runs: 3
- Wins: 3
- Career Earnings: £1,014,001
- Total Winning Distances: 11 1/4 lengths
What Date & Time Is The 2023 Brigadier Gerard Stakes?
��Time/Date: 7:42pm (Thursday 25th May 2023)
��Racecourse: Sandown
�� Purse/Winner: £45,368
�� TV: Racing TV
Sir Michael Stoute Looking For 13th Brigadier Gerard Success
The good news for Desert Crown fans is the Brigadier Gerard Stakes is also a race his trainer Sir Michael Stoute loves to win. The veteran handler has landed this Sandown prize a remarkable 12 times over the years and is the clear front-runner in the race’s history – see below all Stoute’s Brigadier Gerard winners.
Stoute’s first Brigadier Gerard Stakes win came way back in 1991 with Stagecraft and his most recent was only 12 months ago when Bay Bridge took the contest.
Sir Michael could also run Solid Stone in Thursday’s race.
Sir Michael Stoute Brigadier Gerard Stake Winners
Stagecraft (1991), Opera House (1992), Pilsudski (1996), Insatiable (1998), Notnowcato (2006), Workforce (2011), Carlton House (2012), Autocratic (2017), Poet’s Word (2018), Regal Reality (2019), Bay Bridge (2022)
Hukum Looks The Biggest Danger To Desert Crown
Desert Crown is rated 123, but with the Owen Burrows-trained Hukum rated 122, then the Derby winner might not have things all his own way.
Hakum has won 8 of his 13 career starts and the last of those was an easy 4 1/4 length success in the Group One Coronation Cup at Epsom – the day before Desert Crown won his Derby.
Like Desert Crown, he’s not been on the track since so will be heading to Sandown with a year break. However, he’s a horse that’s gone well fresh in the past – winning off 154 and 211 day absences before.
While, look at the winning times of their big race Epsom wins last season – there’s nothing in it!
- Hakum won the Coronation Cup in a time of 2m 36.40
- Desert Crown won the Epsom Derby in a time of 2m 36.38
- 1. Cash
- 2. Chichester
- 3. Claymore
- 4. Desert Crown
- 5. Francesco Clemente
- 6. Hukum
- 7. Solid Stone
- 8. Nashwa
