Aidan O’Brien has 31 of the 83 horses currently nominated for the Derby | Emma the berry
After the rake period on 7 March, 83 horses are still registered for the 2023 G1 Derby at Epsom Downs on Saturday, 3 June. Worth £1.5 million, 1-and-a-half mile competition is the richest race in the UK.
Of the 83, 45 trained in Ireland and of those, 31 giants were trained by Ballydoyle superman Aidan O’Brien for a variety of Coolmore partnerships. At the top is Deep Impact’s hero G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy (Jpn). Auguste Rodin (Japan) and son of the late Shadai kingpin Victoria Street (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). The final winner took home the GI Breeders’ Cup for minors at Keeneland in November. The winning duo of Alfred Munnings (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Tower of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) are other awaited potential classical stars.
O’Brien’s sons Joseph and Donnacha, the eighth field between them, led by Group 1 winners Pride and Reign (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for the latter and Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) for the former.
There are also three chances for the King and Queen to win the Blue Riband this year, with G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas nominated winner Slipofthepen (GB) (Knight Of Thunder {Ire}) coached by John and Thady Gosden, assigned to the team coached by William Haggas Desert Hero (GB) (star sea {Ire}) and the victory of Sir Michael Stoute Ring of Fire (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}) were nominated. Stoute qualified for the 2022 Derby against Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and he also entered Crystal Mariner (Ire) (star sea {Ire}) to Robert Ng.
Gosdens has the largest arsenal in the UK Derby with 15 ponies nominated. Anchoring their brigade was George Strawbridge’s ‘TDN’s Rising Star’ Epictetus (Ire) (King {GB}), who ranks second in the Vertem Futurity Trophy S. after the aforementioned Auguste Rodin.
In Andrew Balding’s quartet, 3 people wear the colors of King Power Racing led by the hero G2 Royal Lodge S Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}).
The second entry period is set for Tuesday, April 4.
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This story was posted in Europe, Share Europe News, Europe’s Top News and tagged Aidan O’Brien, Al Riffa (Fr), Auguste Rodin (Ire), Donnacha O’Brien, Epictetus (Ire), Downs Epsom, G1 Derby nominations, John and Thady Gosden, Joseph O’Brien, Pride and Reign (Ire), Foxes (Ire), Victoria Street (Ire).
