Derby de English
The feature race this Saturday in Surrey will be a Group I contest over a mile and a half. The race, offering up a total purse of $6,000,000 the race has drawn a full field of twenty entrants. Open to only three-year-olds the firm turf track has attracted the top turf runners from around the glove. Let’s take a look through the contenders.
- Urban Lunacy (JPN) – kate3 – GD Mate – 30/1
Looking for his first win against group company, the bay colt is sired by top Japanese sire Kitisan Black. Lightly raced wtih eight lifetime starts, the most recent start for the colt was last month in France during The Hogwarts (G2) at a mile and three-eighths. Held off the pace in fifth out of the gate, he wouldn’t seem to find his stride in the race and would end up crossing the wire in sixth, setting a speed figure of eighty-five for the race. His most recent win would come in his home country of Japan against allowance company over nine and a half furlongs on a track rated as good. Stalking the pace from fourth he started gaining ground on the other contenders midway through the race and would go on to win by an impressive margin of eleven and three-quarter lengths before going on to finish second in his group stakes debut in The No Allies (G2).
2. Dark Rhapsody (IRE) – socalslew33bm – H. Desitter – 10/1
In the second post, this light grey son of Dark Angel (IRE) will be taking a big step up in class as he makes his first group stakes start of his career this Saturday. The most recent start for the colt came earlier this month in Kentucky over a mile against allowance company. Stalking the pace early from second out of the gate, the colt would surge late in the stretch to win by a quarter of a length while setting a speed figure of one hundred, equaling a lifetime best speed figure he had set previously during an allowance race in Iowa over the same distance.
3. Grannys Knickers – cocobella9 – H. Ross – 13/1
Coming into this race off of two consecutive wins, the light grey gelding will be taking a step up in class to make his debut in a group stakes start. Sired by Knicks Go, the gelding most recently started in a listed stakes race in Italy over ten furlongs in which he would take the field from gate to wire and would go on to win the race by four and a quarter lengths while setting a speed figure of one hundred one. Prior to this he would win another race in wire-to-wire fashion in Denmark over nine furlongs.
4. Save The Blanco (JPN) – kate3 – D. Givins – 13/1
Seeking his first group win, the Japanese-bred has made six-career starts. His most recent start was with the other Japanese starter in the field during The Italian Derby (G1) over a mile and three-eighths. Settling into the middle of the pack in eighth, the colt began to make his move midway through the race and would cross the wire in second while setting a speed figure of ninety-eight. His most recent win was in January, which also came in Italy, though this time in an allowance race over eight and a half furlongs. Stalking the pace in second, he wouldn’t come into contention until the stretch where he would overtake the pacesetter and win by two and three-quarter lengths.
5. Zarakudo (FR) – coolmorepascal2 – D. Raymond – 11/1
Coming off a narrow win last month before coming into the race this weekend, the bay gelding is sired by Zarak and is lightly raced at nine starts. His most recent start was in the Japanese 2000 Guineas (G1) at a mile and a quarter. Settling in at the back of the pack in fourteenth early, the gelding started to inch forward at the midway point of the race and would be given the victory in a photo finish which declared him the winner by a nose. He set a speed figure of one hundred two for the race which is a lifetime best. The gelding has only faced group competition one other time in his racing career, midway through his two-year-old season during The Bedford Stakes (G2) at a mile in which he would finish sixth.
6. Waltz Of Violence (IRE) – teamasr9 – N. Labarache – 15/1
Making just his sixth career start with this race on Saturday, the bay colt most recently started in Japan last month during The Japanese 2000 Guineas (G1) over a mile and a quarter. Sent out sharply form the gate, the son of Camelot (GB) went straight to the lead in the race but would get caught late in the stretch to finish a heartbreaking second, losing by photo at the wire, though setting a lifetime best speed figure of one hundred two. His most recent win came in November of his two-year-old season during The Philanthropist (G3) in the United States at a mile. This time the colt would take the field from gate to wire and win by a quarter of a length.
7. Hither Shore (GB) – seabrook – M. Walker – 12/1
Sent out to try to get his second win of the season this Saturday, the bay son of top turf sire Frankel (GB) most recently started earlier in the month during The Italian Derby (G1) at a mile and three-eighths. The colt went straight out to the lead in the race but would fade in the stretch to cross the wire in stretch while setting a speed figure of ninety-six. The most recent win for the colt was in early February during the Super Hero Role Playing Stakes (G3) at a mile and five-sixteenths. He was out of the gate sharply and settled into second stalking the pace before overtaking the leader midway through the race and then going on to win by five and three-quarter lengths.
8. Raimon Costas (IRE) – autografs – D. Matas – 9/1
Nearing the middle of the field, the horse going into the eighth gate on Saturday is this three-year-old by Sea The Stars who is out of the EOY-winning dam London Guildhall. The most recent start for the brown Irish-bred came late last month during The Griffin (G2) at a mile and a quarter in France. Trailing the front runners in fourth, he had moved up into second midway through the race and maintained that position until the wire, setting a speed figure of one hundred one. His most recent win came in January against allowance company over nine furlongs in his native Ireland. Stalking from second out of the gate, he took over the lead at the halfway point and would go on to win by six and a half lengths.
9. Born To Be Filed (IRE) – steppenwolf – B. Lee – 14/1
Returning to group company this weekend, the light grey colt is sired by King Of Steel is coming into this race off of a win that took place earlier this month overseas in the United States during a listed stakes race over eight and a half furlongs on a track rated as good. The colt took the field from gate to wire in the race, winning by three and a half lengths while setting a speed figure of one hundred two, which is a lifetime best for the colt. His most recent group start came in January during the Fainting Goat Nightmares Stakes (G2) at a mile where he would finish twelfth after stalking the early pace from third.
10. Camelot Forever (IRE) – pimpermole – D. Doherty – 15/1
At ten lifetime starts and career starts that are approaching the million-dollar mark, this bay colt has won half of his career starts. His most recent start came earlier this month over a yielding course in The Jockey Club (G1) at a mile and five-sixteenths. Exiting the gate in third, the colt maintained the position up until the stretch where he began to lose ground and faded back to fifth at the wire while setting a speed figure of ninety-four. His most recent win was in January during a listed stakes race over nine furlongs where he would stalk from third, take over the pace midway through the race, and go on to win by one and three-quarter lengths. Prior to this the colt would also win The Saint Cloud (G1) as a late two-year-old.
11. Inculcated (IRE) – foxon30 – J. Benisz – 17/1
Lightly raced with just five career starts, the chestnut gelding is sired by Waldgeist and is out of a stakes placed dam. The most recent start for the gelding came overseas in Hong Kong during a listed stakes race over ten furlongs. Held back off the pace in seventh out of the gate, he would be released to run midway through the race and would win by five and a quarter lengths while setting a speed figure of ninety-eight, which is a lifetime best speed figure for the gelding. He will be making his group stakes debut this Saturday.
12. Instant Tears – rubiano07 – E. Sharp – 23/1
Group placed but seeking his first win against group company, the bay colt is sired by Instagrad and will be making his tenth career start. His most recent start came late last month during The Hogwarts (G2) in France over a mile and three-eighths in his group stakes debut. Exiting the gate in fourth, he would make a late run in the stretch to hit the board with a third place finish while setting a speed figure of ninety-five. His most recent win was in January when he broke his maiden as an early three-year-old over nine furlongs in the United States. Far off of the pace in thirteenth early he would make his move midway through the race and go on to win by a length.
13. Mostaist (GB) – auguadeep3 – P. Omstar – 12/1
With eight career starts, the brown colt is sired by Mostahdaf (IRE) and is out of a dam that won in claiming level races. The most recent start for the colt came last month here in England during The 2000 Guinea Pigs (G1) at a mile. He would follow the field from twelfth out of the gate and make up some ground in the stretch but would only cross the wire in eleventh despite being only four and a quarter of a lengths off the pace of the race winner. He would set a speed figure of ninety-nine for the race. His prior race ended in a win for the colt. This was in The Golden Rose (G2), where he would exit the gate in seventh and hang back towards the middle of the field until he started to make a run midway through the race when he would inch up into fifth. He would put in a drive down the stretch to emerge victorious by five lengths with a speed figure of one hundred five.
14. Pier Janssen (GB) – stalbrabant9 – K. Ledwith – 15/1
Taking a step up in class and trying out Group I company for the first time the chestnut colt is sired by Palace Pier and he has had eighteen career starts making him one of the more experienced horses in the field for Saturday in terms of number of starts. The most recent start for the colt came last month in France during The Hogwarts (G2) at a mile and three-eighths. Settling back into sixth early at the start, he steadily worked through the field, finding himself in third at the midway point of the race. He would eventually go on to win by three lengths while setting a lifetime best speed figure of one hundred one. This is the only group stakes win for the colt so far.
15. Brilliant Patriot (IRE) – atw23 – S. Ledwith – 44/1
The longest shot on the board for Saturday’s race, the bay colt has made just four career starts and has not won a race to date, though he is graded placed. Sired by The Gurkha and out of an allowance winning dam, the bay colt most recently started last month here in England during The Vase Of Chester (G3) at a mile and five-eighths. Stalking the pace from sixth, the colt started to fade back at the halfway point of the race and would cross the wire nineteen and a half lengths back with a speed figure of eighty-six. His best finish to date was in February during a nine furlong allowance race in which he would cross the wire in second after stalking the pace early.
16. Dragnapour – karlc – E. Eberhard – 12/1
Off of a win in his group stakes debut, the bay colt is sired by top sire Curlin and an allowance winning dam. His most reent start was in that group stakes debut which took place during The Force Stakes (G3) at a mile and a quarter in France last month. Showing the field the way from gate to wire, the colt would win the contest by one and three-quarter lengths while setting a speed figure of one hundred five, which is a lifetime best speed figure for the colt. Beginning his racing career on the dirt, after switching to the turf the colt has finished no worse than second in any race.
17. Russ Le Rox (IRE) – bluebloods – F. Gossett – 11/1
Looking for his first graded stakes win the bay colt by Australia has made sixteen career starts and is out of a dam who was once a claimer but has produced two offspring that are both stakes quality. The most recent start for the colt was last month in South Africa during the South African Derby (G2) in which he would be held back towards the middle of the field in fifth and allowed to run midway through the race. He would get up to cross the wire second while setting a speed figure of ninety-four. His most recent win was in February where he faced allowance company over nine and a half furlongs and took the field from gate to wire to win by five and a half lengths.
18. House Of Order (IRE) – nationalore – R. Whisper – 37/1
Nearing the end of Saturday’s field this bay colt will be making his second group start of his career in eight lifetime starts. His most recent start was last month during The Vase Of Chester (G3) at a mile and five-eights here in England. Held back in eighth after leaving the gate the colt would steadily gain on the other contenders throughout the race, finding himself in sixth by the time the field reached the halfway point. He would end up crossing the wire in second with a speed figure of eighty-nine. The colt is still a maiden and his second-place finish in his graded stakes debut has been his best finish to date.
19. AU Contraire Frere (JPN) – ianwhipkey10 – A. Jolly – 15/1
Coming into the race off of three consecutive wins and only losing once in his four-race career, the Japanese-bred brown colt is by Contrail, winner of the Japanese Triple Crown. The most recent start for the colt was earlier this month in Italy during The Italian Derby (G1) at a mile and three-eighths. Well off the pace in thirteenth as a field left the gate, the colt put pressure on the other contenders early and would go on to win the race by two and a half lengths while setting a speed figure of one hundred one, which is a lifetime best for the colt. Prior to this graded debut he also won against allowance company and when breaking his maiden. The only race lost by the colt has been in his debut as an early three-year-old.
20. Theater Kid (IRE) – teamasr – J. Wilson – 21/1
Currently ranked as the top turf long-distance runner in the sim, the bay son of Camelot (GB) and out of a stakes placed dam, most recently started in late March in Australia during the Sydney Derby (G1) at a mile and a half. Off the pace in eighth out of the gate, the colt steadily increased his pace throughout the race and by the midway point they had reached the lead. He went on to win by four and three-quarter lengths while setting a speed figure of one hundred, a lifetime best speed figure. Late in his two-year-old season the colt also finished third in The Saint Cloud (G1).
Flrancho’s Picks:
Win: Save The Blanco (JPN)
Place: Zarakudo (FR)
Show: Dark Rhapsody (IRE)