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Derby Stakes �V Form Comments

05/06/2015

G1 - 2409m - Turf

1

Carbon Dating

Although he has competed at a high level, he has been beaten at least 12L in his four starts, and it would be shock of the decade if he managed to win the 2015 Investec Derby.

2

Elm Park

Made rapid progress at two, climaxed when under an aggressive front-running ride he easily won a G1 over 1600m at Doncaster last October - marking him as one of Europe's most exciting talents. Only 6L third to Golden Horn in the G2 Dante Stakes at York on his return, but that was his first start of 2015, and he raced too freely for much of the journey. Some worries about how he will handle Epsom, though no real stamina worries as he is bred to stay 2400m.

3

Epicuris

Unbeaten as a two-year-old including an easy victory in a 2000m G1 at Saint-Cloud last November. However this French-trained colt - from the stable of dual Arc winner Treve - was easily put in his place on his 2015 debut, beaten 4L by Silverwave in a G3 and that colt's disappointing run in the French Derby last Sunday at Longchamp did nothing to enhance the form.

4

Giovanni Canaletto

He is the full-brother to Ruler Of The World, winner of the Investec Derby in 2013. Runaway winner of his second and final 2014 start, he was expected to make a winning 2015 debut in a 2000m G3 at The Curragh last month. However he didn't travel well and held his head high under pressure, finishing a neck second to a colt who had only been competing in handicaps. This extra distance should help and his recent homework has reportedly been impressive.

5

Golden Horn

Unbeaten in three starts, increasingly impressively and surely will start favourite for the Investec Derby. Most recently he travelled well throughout before accelerating impressively for a comprehensive victory in York's G2 Dante Stakes. Neat and well-balanced he should handle Epsom's gradients and he just needs to prove he has the stamina - mixed messages from his pedigree - for the step up to 2409m.

6

Hans Holbein

A scopey colt, he stepped up both to a distance just further than this one, and also in class with a dominant performance in the G3 Chester Vase, run on soft ground last month, leading early and then finding plenty when various challengers pestered him. His stable's formidable record in this race adds to his appeal.

7

Jack Hobbs

A relatively inexpensive yearling purchase who won his first two starts, latterly when hitting the headlines with a runaway12L success in a 2000m handicap at Sandown Park in April. Although failing to justify favouritism - beaten 2 3/4L by Golden Horn - when elevated to G2 company for York's Dante Stakes it was still another big step forward. Very impressive to the eye when recently working around Epsom's tricky track.

8

Kilimanjaro

A big, strong colt though not with the typical profile of an Aidan O'Brien trained Derby winner having shown very little on his first two starts. However he has progressed significantly and, though looking in trouble coming down the hill at Lingfield, he galloped strongly up the straight to win last month's Listed Lingfield Derby Trial. No distance worries but has he the class?

9

Moheet

A very expensive two-year-old purchase, he thrashed his rivals in a 1600m maiden on his only start in 2014, earning himself quite a reputation. He has run respectably in both starts this season latterly when 7 3/4L eighth of 18 in the G1 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Newmarket last month, starting slowly and then failing to get a clear passage.

10

Rogue Runner

With just three runs to his name, he would look a very unlikely Derby winner. German-trained, he gained a narrow victory in a small event over 1600m in April. He then started favourite for a 2000m G3 in Frankfurt but didn't have enough pace in the closing stages, finishing 3 3/4L behind the winner.

11

Storm The Stars

May have been unluckier not to get closer, including having to challenge wide, when 1 3/4L  second to Ireland's Epsom challenger Hans Holbein in a G3 at Chester last month. He then booked his own Epsom ticket by leading all the way to win a Listed contest over 2200m at Goodwood. No stamina concerns and expect to see him using that asset by again racing very prominently on the big day.

12

Success Days

Has won all his three starts in 2015, with the decision to supplement him into the Derby coming after he had demolished three rivals by 10L and upwards in Ireland's main Epsom Derby trial over 2000m at Leopardstown. Admittedly the withdrawal of the hot favourite weakened the form as does the fact that the winner seemed to handle the heavy ground much better than his rivals. Clearly soft ground would be a big plus at Epsom, but it looks very unlikely.

 

 

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