Epsom Derby 2008 - Six of the Best
CURTAIN CALL (FR)
c Sadler's Wells (USA) - Aspara (FR) (Darshaan)
Form: 62215- Owner: Mrs Patrick Cooper
Trainer: Luca Cumani Breeder: Famille Niarchos
Previously trained in Ireland by Jessica Harrington, the 60,000 guineas yearling Curtain Call found only New Approach too good on his third racecourse appearance in the Group Two Futurity Stakes at the Curragh. Despite entering the Group Two Beresford Stakes a month later as a maiden, the son of Sadler's Wells made every yard of the running to slam his rivals by at least four lengths. After a creditable fifth behind Ibn Khaldun in the Group One Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, Curtain Call joined Luca Cumani and looks set try and give his new handler a third triumph in the Epsom Classic.
FOOLIN MYSELF (GB)
Montjeu (IRE) - Friendlier (Zafonic (USA))
Form: 51- Owner: Bill Gredley
Trainer: Barry Hills Breeder: Middle Park Stud Ltd
Bill Gredley's home-bred Foolin Myself, whose dam is a half-sister to the owner's Oaks and St Leger winner User Friendly, made a promising debut when finishing a staying-on fifth in a competitive seven furlong maiden at Newmarket in October. The son of Monjeu returned to the Suffolk course a month later and registered a comfortable victory over fellow Derby hopeful Tartan Bearer. Regarded by his trainer as a horse who will make a far better three-year-old over middle distances, Foolin Myself could have a similar preparation to last year's Derby winner Authorized, starting off in the Dante Stakes at York.
IBN KHALDUN (USA)
c Dubai Destination (USA) - Gossamer (Sadler's Wells (USA)
Form: 4111- Owner: Godolphin
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor UAE Breeder: Darley
A colt who has risen through the ranks, losing his maiden tag at the second attempt before winning a nursery and then the seven-furlong Group Three Autumn Stakes at Ascot. Further progress followed two weeks later with a comprehensive victory in the mile Group One Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, a race previously won in recent years by High Chaparral, Motivator and Authorized en route to Epsom glory.
KINGDOM OF NAPLES (USA)
c Sadler's Wells (USA) - Inkling (USA) (Seeking The Gold (USA))
Form: 1- Owner: Michael Tabor
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien IRE Breeder: Tower Bloodstock
A son of Sadler's Wells, responsible for recent Derby winners Galileo and High Chaparral, Kingdom Of Naples could not have been more impressive on his debut in a mile maiden at Navan in October. In a race which boasted some of the top juveniles from the yards of John Oxx, Dermot Weld and Jim Bolger, Kingdom Of Heaven cruised to the lead before posting a convincing three-length victory despite running green.
NEW APPROACH (IRE)
 |
ch c Galileo (IRE) - Park Express (Ahonoora)
Form: 11111-221 Owner: H R H Princess Haya Of Jordan
Trainer: Jim Bolger IRE
Jockey: Kevin Manning Breeder: Lodge Park Stud
New Approach ended the 2007 season as Europe's champion two-year-old, with an unblemished record of five victories, all at seven furlongs. The colt was bred by Seamus Burns’ Lodge Park Stud and made 430,000 euros as a yearling at Goffs in September, 2006. The Coolcullen handler had trained New Approach's dam, the 1986 Irish Champion Stakes heroine Park Express who has turned out to be an exceptional broodmare. The strapping chestnut colt is a half-brother to the high-class filly Dazzling Park (also trained by Bolger) and the top Japanese sprinter Shinko Forest. Last term, New Approach followed the exact same race programme as Bolger's champion juvenile of the previous season, Teofilo, commencing with a two-length maiden triumph on heavy ground at the Curragh on July 15. An all the way win in the Group Three Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown followed 13 days later and, returned to the Curragh on August 25, New Approach slammed Curtain Call and Henrythenavigator in the Group Two Futurity Stakes. New Approach stepped up to Group One level in the National Stakes on September 16 and looked exceptional in handing a length and three quarters defeat to Rio De La Plata, with fellow Group One winner Myboycharlie in third. The Galileo colt again put the best of his peers to the sword on October 20, in the Group One Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. Unable to take up his customary front-running role, New Approach showed the qualities of a champion in battling to a half-length victory over Fast Company, with Raven's Pass third and Rio De La Plata fourth. Breeder Seamus Burns retained a half-share in New Approach after he went through Goffs as a yearling, owning the colt in partnership with trainer Jim Bolger’s wife Jackie. Burns sold his share to Sheikh Mohammed before New Approach’s National Stakes victory while the Bolgers sold their interest to the same owner prior to last year’s Darley Dewhurst Stakes. New Approach, who is racing this year in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed’s wife Princess Haya Of Jordan, reappeared in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, where he was headed in the final furlong to go down by a nose to Henrythenavigator. He took on the same rival three weeks later in the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh, again finishing second with a length and three-quarters splitting the pair this time. Trainer Jim Bolger suggested in April that New Approach would miss the Vodafone Derby and but announced the colt would run at Epsom on Monday. It was a decision which has paid off.
Race Record: Starts: 8; 1st 6; 2nd: 2; 3rd: - Win & Place Prize Money: £1,296,715.95
WASHINGTON IRVING (IRE)
c Montjeu (IRE) - Shouk (Shirley Heights)
Form : 4- Owner: Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor
Trainer Aidan O'Brien IRE Breeder: Quay Bloodstock
A three-parts brother to 2006 Oaks heroine Alexandrova by Montjeu, sire of the 2007 Vodafone Derby winner Authorized, Washington Irving has the pedigree to shine at Epsom Downs. He was touted as a Vodafone Derby candidate even before he made his debut in a seven-furlong maiden at the Curragh in October. He finished a creditable fourth in that race and looks set to be another typical Aidan O'Brien improver as a three-year-old, as the master of Ballydoyle seeks a third victory in the Vodafone Derby.
