Derby de English

The Derby de English is one of the most prestigious races in the Sim, and the field contesting this year’s event lives up to expectations, with a host of monsters lining up for a share of the $1million prize purse.
With only a few runners that naturally prefer to sit forward, it opens the door for a something with a bit of early speed to make a break, which could throw up some unexpected results.
Fine weather across the UK has provided a firm turf course for the 12 furlong trip, which will be looked at with great interest by all in the sim world.

PP1 BALL AND BISCUIT(JPN) (DEEP IMPACT x GALILEO (IRE) x DUBAI MILLENNIUM (GB)) drgnforce 8/1
Going from the inside gate will be this emerging brown colt, who is the son of a he-mare who was a winner of only one of his 29 starts, but showed a distinct preference for turf routes. It would seem the breeding has been a match made in heaven, with his form peaking in his more recent starts, as he continues to rise in distance. It was a dominant win last time out in the Desert Sky Turf Route over 10 furlongs, and he gets the chance to shine over an extra 2 furlongs here. Two starts ago, he finished a game 4th in the Grade II The No Allies coming from midfield, but never threatening the runaway winner. Finished off very strongly at his previous 2 starts, firstly winning his maiden by 3 lengths, and then taking out the Believable Tie Turf Route. Big step up in class, but should be full of confidence after his effortless win last time, and should be in the mix.

PP2 MONCHAPPY(IRE) (HIGH CHAPARRAL (IRE) x MONSUN(GER) x SUNDAY SILENCE) cjt1 53/1
The outsider of the field, for good reason, an ambitious entry by his trainer after only 2 starts, but obviously showed enough in his 5 ¼ length maiden win last start to warrant a try here in one of the premium events in the racing calendar. His first start over 6 furlongs, saw him sit just off the speed and finish off strongly, only to be over run late. He then trounced a field of 4 next up in his maiden, leading from gate to wire. His dam was a winner of 2 out of her 20 starts. With no exposed form against a field of any quality, or over a distance greater than 6.5 furlongs, the odds are appropriate.

PP3 SOUND OF SOULS(KY) (MEDAGLIA D’ORO x DEPUTY MINISTER x SEEKING THE GOLD) checkmate4 6/1
Last start winner of the Grade I Japanese 2000 Guineas after coming from close to the back of the field, this roan colt was able to live up to his breeding. Much was expected from the half brother to sim legend, CREEPSHOW, a winner of 8 Grade I races, and $7.7mil in prizemoney, and he didn’t let his fans down, recording the 5th fastest SP for a 3yo on turf this year (108) on his way to claiming the lion share of the $2 mil purse. A winner of 4 of his 7 starts on turf, including 2 sprints, he will most likely position himself toward the rear of the field, and then unleash a massive charge home. His only other run in Graded company besides his last start victory was a 4th place in the Grade II The Royal Dodge, when he came from over 10 lengths off the leader to finish close up. Huge chance.

PP4 AFFLICT(IRE) (GALILEO (IRE) x DYNAFORMER x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (IRE)) toreup 10/1
From the Desperado stables comes this ever improving type, who made the step up to Graded class last time out and ground out a dour 2nd placing in the Grade III The Jargon Stakes. Before that he put together two wins in a row in restricted company, doing his best work in the stretch, driving to the line to score a narrow ¼ length win in a NW2L allowance, and before that he was a dominant winner in a MSW. Although it took him 5 starts to break his maiden, he has been placed at all of his 7 career starts, and Desperado’s patience looks to have now been rewarded. Although his SPs have not been quite as high as some of his rivals, the increase in distance looks like it should be to his advantage, so further improvement can be expected, giving him a real shot at this.

PP5 DUBAI NAVIGATOR(KY) (HENRYTHENAVIGATOR x A.P. INDY x DANZIG) blankpoin7 6/1
Big query over this runner, who has been racing against the best since his early 2yo days, and despite some encouraging recent SPs, he hasn’t been able to score a win since taking out the Grade II The Bedford Stakes by a head against GALICIO(IRE) back in October. Last time out he switched back to turf, after having 4 starts on dirt, and he relished the change, running a career best SP 102, however, it wasn’t enough to finish on the board in the Grade I 2000 Guineas in Newmarket. His first start on dirt was his best result, putting in a massive run to come from more than 10 lengths off the lead to just miss by a nose on the line. After that he was only thereabouts, never finishing better than midfield. Rises from 8f to 12f here, and with no exposed form over more than 9f, the jump up in distance is a concern, but even though he hasn’t been getting the best results recently, there is no doubting he is a class performer. Should be kept safe.

PP6 SICKO(KY) (TAPIT x ALYDAR x BUCKPASSER) juvy 24/1
All or nothing is what you seem to get from this scratch bred colt, who has either dominated or failed miserably in each of his races so far. Starting his career on dirt, he was a winner on debut, but didn’t get close to placing at his next 3 starts, prompting a switch to turf. He quickly displayed his preference for this type of going, winning a NW2L allowance, before again failing to impress. A step up in distance to 11f in a CPU*225 restricted race saw him toy with his rivals, opening up an 8 length lead at the halfway mark before easing down to score impressively. Last time out he climbed steeply in class to the Grade II South African Derby where he started as the outsider of the field, but ran like the favourite, storming to a 7 length lead just before the home stretch and cruising to an easy win. Proven at the distance and should not be taken lightly again.

PP7 GALICIO(IRE) (GALILEO (IRE) x MEDICEAN (GB) x DANEHILL) bestobene2 6/1
Lightly raced galloper, whose only two wins so far have been in Benelux restricted races, but has performed well without winning in Graded company at all of his other 4 runs. Most recently, he ran an SP 102, but was only midfield throughout in the Grade I 2000 Guineas. Before that he dropped to the back of the field, before commencing a big run home, making up many lengths to finish 3rd in the Grade III Irish 2000 Guineas Trial, also with an SP 102. Despite having never run over a distance more than a mile, he has been doing his best work late in every race he has contested, which indicates he might be looking for more ground. Should settle around midfield early, and provided he can stay the distance, he shapes as one of the main chances.

PP8 GIBRALT CAMAZOTZ(IRE) (ROCK OF GIBRALTAR (IRE) x KRIS S. x BLUSHING GROOM(FR)) dannejaka4 21/1
The second runner stepping up in class straight from a maiden to a Grade I, this runner has run in completely different racing styles in each of his 3 starts to date. First up on debut, he settled just off the lead and weakened when the pressure was applied, to drop out, beaten by over 10 lengths at 8.5f. Second up, he settled at the tail of the field of 14 runners, and charged home with a massive run to just miss out, finishing 2nd over 10f. Last time out, he jumped straight to the front and opened up an 8 length lead before just holding on to score a win by a neck, with an SP 95 over 11f. It would not be unusual to dismiss a runner with such modest form in a premier staying event like this, however, he comes from the astute stable of Daniel Empire Racing, who has a habit of getting long turf route champions. His tactics here will remain a mystery until after the race starts, but he is rapidly improving, and it would not surprise to see him put in a big run.

PP9 MASTER OF MAYHEM(NZ) (MASTERCRAFTSMAN (IRE) x SADLER’S WELLS x KINGMAMBO) mtkholding 5/1
It is always a good sign to see a 3yo who has improved his SP figures at every one of his career starts, and that is what this colt has done, jumping from his debut SP 78 on dirt, to his last start SP 108 when finishing 2nd in the Grade II The Derby Stud Trail. Before that he managed to score a narrow win in the Royal Story Turf Route, when he led throughout, running an SP 96. Has started 5 times on turf, for 3 wins and 2 seconds and is likely to push up to challenge for the lead here. His dam was a supremely bred, but highly unsuccessful runner on the track, failing to win from her 6 career starts. She looks to have a better career ahead of her in the breeding shed if this runner is anything to go by. Will line up as the morning line equal favourite, and if he can run up to his last start effort, should be in this for a long way.

PP10 NEXT INSPECTION(ENG) (GREEN DESERT x BERNARDINI x DEPUTY MINISTER) foxon3 9/1
A fair effort last time out in the Grade II The Hogwarts when got as far back as 16 lengths from the lead at the halfway mark, before making up ground late to finish 3rd, but never looked a winning chance, finishing 7 lengths from the winner. His previous 9 starts had been on dirt, with some nice results including 3 stakes placings, but only scoring a single win in a NW2L in a sprint. His SPs have just plateaued recently, with each of his last 5 starts resulting in figures between 92 and 96, and he is now looking for a spark to see him take the next step. Faces a top class field here, so will be very tough, but his last start placing against graded company over 11f shows he has the capacity to match it with the best in these conditions. Will be finishing off strongly.

PP11 DYNAMIC FORCE(IRE) (MONTJEU (IRE) x MISWAKI x DYNAFORMER) jdrhys 7/1
Yet to finish off the board at any of his 5 starts so far, this scratch bred colt has quickly shaped up as a top class stayer, having stepped up in distance at each of his career starts. Last time out he settled just worse than midfield in the Grade I Sydney Derby and finished off strongly to get 3rd, although he never really looked like winning. Before that, he was clearly too good against a field of 5 in the Hopefully Rattle Turf Route over 9.5f, notching an SP 103. Pushed forward 3 starts ago, but was overpowered late, when finished 2nd in the Ball Ban Turf Route against a field of 4. With a lack of early speed in this race, he may find himself settling just off the lead, and he proved last time out that he will get the distance comfortably. The form through the Sydney Derby is always strong every year, so he commands a lot of respect.

PP12 CRYIN AGAIN(KY) (STREET CRY (IRE) x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (IRE) x KINGMAMBO) sknunkwork2 5/1
Starting his career with a debut win over 6.5f and an SP 76, he has gradually increased his SPs as he has stepped up in distance, peaking last time out in the Grade III The Force Stakes, where he stalked the leaders before proving too strong over 10f with an SP 104 Before that, he came from last to swamp the field of 6 in the Abyss Turf Route over 8.5f to score by ¾ length. A rare failure in the Grade II Fainting Goat Nightmares Stakes was preceded by his first stakes win in the Owner Restricted Blazing Saddles Breeder’s Showdown Turf Juvenile. Will line up as the morning line equal favourite on the back of his dominant win last start, which gives every indication he will be right up to this. The one to beat.