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Camelot Heads a Dozen for Investec Derby
29/05/12

A dozen colts have been left in the Investec Derby at the five-day confirmation stage headed by the unbeaten Camelot. The 12-furlong Classic, run for the 233rd time, is due off at 4pm at Epsom Downs this Saturday, June 2, and offers a prize fund of £1,325,000, the richest in Britain.

Camelot
© Caroline Norris

Camelot, who is trained at the famous Ballydoyle Stables in Ireland by Aidan O’Brien, is unbeaten in three starts and comes into the Investec Derby on the back of victory in the opening Classic of the season, the QIPCO 2000 Guineas over a mile at Newmarket on May 5. If successful at Epsom Downs on Saturday, Camelot would become the 37th horse to win both Classics and the first since Sea The Stars in 2009.

The son of Montjeu is currently the red-hot 4/6 favourite with William Hill, Official Betting Partner of the 2012 Investec Derby Festival. The last horse to win the Derby at odds-on was Shergar, who stormed home by a record 10 lengths when successful at 10/11 in 1981. However, the three odds-on favourites in the intervening period - El Gran Senor (8/11, 1984), Tenby (4/5, 1993) and Entrepreneur (4/6, 1997) - were all beaten.

Joseph O’Brien, the 19-year-old eldest son of Aidan O’Brien, takes the ride on Camelot. Michael Church, the official historian of the Derby, revealed today if Camelot wins on Saturday, then it would be the first time in the race’s illustrious history that a father/son combination of trainer/jockey had succeeded.

O’Brien, who saddled Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002) to win the Derby, has four other possible starters in the 2012 renewal. They are Astrology, the impressive 11-length winner of the Group Three Dee Stakes at Chester, Imperial Monarch, successful in the Group Three bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown Park, Group Two Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial runner-up Tower Rock and Father Of Science, who landed a maiden at the Chester May Meeting in good style.

Cavaleiro
© Racehorse Photos

Trainer Marcus Tregoning is happy with his Investec Derby outsider Cavaleiro after the three-year-old colt worked over six and a half furlongs at Lingfield under his big race pilot Hayley Turner, who will become only the second female jockey to ride in the premier Classic.

Cavaleiro, a son of Tregoning’s 2006 Derby hero Sir Percy, won twice as a juvenile before finishing third to Main Sequence on his seasonal reappearance in the Group Three Betfred Derby Trial over a mile and a half on Polytrack at Lingfield Park on May 12.

Tregoning, based at Kingwood House Stables in Lambourn, said: “The piece of work Cavaleiro did at Lingfield on Saturday was the best bit of work he has done all year and we were very happy with that.

“I really do like him - he will stay very well and hopefully he will be able to go the pace. We can do what we want with him as he is a very straightforward ride and I imagine we will be tracking the pace - they don’t normally hang around in the Investec Derby.

“It’s extraordinary having such a small field, possibly because people are scared of taking on Camelot, but it’s a strange year.

“It’s a huge opportunity for Hayley Turner and for everyone. I think she is very good for racing and she will give Cavaleiro a very good ride.”

The strongest opposition to the Ballydoyle challenge could come from the Andrew Balding-trained Bonfire, the 9/2 second favourite with William Hill. The Manduro colt landed the Group Two Betfred Dante Stakes at York on May 17, one of the leading trials for the Investec Derby. Since the turn of the century, North Light (2004), Motivator (2005) and Authorized (2007) have completed the Dante/Derby double, while Workforce (2010) was successful at Epsom Downs after finishing runner-up at York.

Bonfire is set to be the first runner in the Investec Derby for Andrew Balding, whose father Ian trained Mill Reef to success in 1971. Bonfire is set to be joined by stable companion Minimise Risk who won a maiden at Newbury in April before finishing last of five in the Group Three Chester Vase on May 10 on ground that did not suit.

Main Sequence, the 11/1 third favourite with William Hill, is set to be trainer David Lanigan’s first runner in the Investec Derby and comes into the race unbeaten in four starts. The Niarchos Family’s colt registered his most recent success in the Group Three Betfred Derby Trial over a mile and a half on Polytrack at Lingfield Park on May 12.

Another trainer set to saddle his first Investec Derby runner is Richard Fahey, who has left in the well-travelled Mickdaam. The son of Dubawi finished fourth in the UAE Derby at Meydan, Dubai, in March and entered the picture for the Investec Derby when battling his way to success in the Group Three Chester Vase earlier this month.

John Gosden enjoyed Derby success with Benny The Dip in 1997 and his runner this year is set to be Thought Worthy, who won the Listed Fairway Stakes at Newmarket on May 19 when Rugged Cross was a length back in third. Rugged Cross is trained by Henry Candy, who sent out the 1980 runner-up Master Willie.

The final declarations for the 2012 Investec Derby will be known shortly after 10.00am on Thursday, May 31.