Investec Derby And Oaks Straight From The Trainers Mouth
Derby
Dawn
Approach - "Dawn Approach is continuing to please me and I am looking
forward to running him in the Investec Derby at Epsom Downs on
Saturday."Bolger
Dawn Approach is a superb horse, trained by a genius, and he's the one to beat, but he's got more questions to answer as far as the trip goes than we have.” Karl Burke
Mirsaale – “"He's in good form but is obviously a big outsider, There's only one Derby and the mile and a half at Epsom will suit him." James Tate
Battle Of Marengo, Ruler Of the World, Mars, Festive Cheer, Flying The Flag – “At the moment Ballydoyle has 5 intended Epsom Derby runners (Battle Of Marengo, Festive Cheer, Flying The Flag, Ruler Of The World & Mars).
“It’s possible this could change depending on how the horses are in the morning prior to declaration.”
Chopin – “Chopin is a very good horse, he’s the best three-year-old by far in Germany. His form is working out as the horse who was second to him last time was second in the German Guineas (Global Bang), so hopefully the form is good enough to run a very good race at Epsom.
“We thought about taking him to Epsom last week but it’s a long journey for the horse so we took him to Dusseldorf two weeks ago, the most undulating track in Germany, and he handled it very well.
“Jamie Spencer rode him and said he wouldn’t be worried about Epsom.
“He doesn’t mind what ground he has, but we believe he’s better on softer so we are happy it has rained.
“Sheikh Fahad became interested two days after his last race. He worked very well on Sunday, everything was fine afterwards and there was no reason not to supplement him.
“I rode in a race at Epsom 28 years ago, it was an amateur race and a great experience. I tried to take up the running going around Tattenham Corner, but we weren’t fast enough.
“I’ll leave tactics to Jamie as he has far more experience of Epsom than me.
“There is pressure as the first German runner, but you have to keep it as normal as you can.
“The main danger is Dawn Approach, for sure. I was there Guineas day and saw him live and he’s a really impressive horse. I watched the other trials and there were some other nice horses as well.
“I don’t think there will be a stamina problem, I think he’ll get the trip as he’s a very relaxed horse and you can ride him as you want to.”
Ocovango - “very good balance and a good cruising speed and, I hope, the ability”.Fabre
The Oaks
Banoffee - “She only ran two weeks ago and I don't want to over-work her, she proved how good she was at Chester,”
Kieran Fallon on Banoffee "She was unbelievable," Fallon said after her length and a quarter win at odds of 9-1.
"She ran too keen early but she is obviously a smart filly to come from where she did.
"The way she quickened off a fast gallop, she must be really smart."
Roz - “"She has been fine since the Guineas and has come on a lot for the run," he said.
"They went a bit too quick for her at Newmarket and I'm hoping the longer distance in the Oaks will suit her. It was still an encouraging run at Newmarket but going that half a stride slower will give us a chance to get involved.
"I don't think the course will hold any fears for her. I have been doing some work with her here on undulating gallops and she has obviously run at the Rowley Mile with that dip in there. I know that's nothing like Epsom and, although we are trying to do everything possible, we won't know until she tries it.
"I think the Investec Oaks is very open. Obviously, there are the top four or five but the likes of ourselves have every chance to be there.”
"Ralph Beckett's filly (Secret Gesture) looks the best on what we have seen but ultimately Sir Michael Stoute's filly (Liber Nauticus) could improve and then you have Moth for Aidan O'Brien.
"Hopefully, Johnny Murtagh will ride Roz. It's a possibility and we have spoken to his agent and fingers crossed that's who we have got.
"I wouldn't count on it until we have declared her but hopefully that is the plan. Johnny has won the Oaks before and the Derby three times so there is no better man than him around Epsom." Harry Dunlop
Liber Nauticus - "It's difficult, the ground changed earlier on and it was a
muddling pace," Peter Reynolds, Ballymacoll's general manager, said,
"so I don't think we saw quite what she's capable of today. She's a filly
that's bred to stay, she probably hit the front a little sooner than Ryan
[Moore] wanted and she seemed to idle when she hit the front, which can happen.
It's up to [Sir] Michael [Stoute, her trainer] where she goes next. She's
entered in the Irish Oaks and the Ribblesdale [at Royal Ascot], we'll see what
Michael says. It's not cast in stone [that she will run in the Oaks]."
"Look Here got into a flap in the paddock before she won the Oaks but this filly should be fine. I hope she's special but I'm not brave enough to say that just yet."
Jim Crowley gets the leg-up, and he said: "Obviously she's favourite, she won her race at Lingfield very well. You'd have to be fearful of Moth and Liber Nauticus but I wouldn't swap her for those two. You need a bit of luck around there, obviously, but I'm looking forward to it.
"Her work is effortless at home and her last two wins have been the same which is why she is held in such high regard. She's by a really good stallion (Galileo) who is producing the goods and there'll be more to come from her. It looks like the ground is also going our way."
Talent – “She has done very well since the Pretty Polly Stakes, both physically and in her work, and if she was my only runner I'd be looking forward to the race. She's well balanced, will handle the track and her pedigree says she will stay," Beckett
Madame Defarge and The Lark – “Both Madame Defarge and The Lark are bang on target, although we would appreciate a bit of rain falling at the track.
The Lark certainly needed her run at Newbury, while the ground was too quick for Madame Defarge at Newmarket, both will definitely have come for those outings,
“On pedigree both have a good chance of handling the track,” he said.
“With Madame Defarge being by Derby winner Motivator and out of a family by former Oaks winner User Friendly, you would be fairly confident she would handle the track, while The Lark is a close relation to Sariska.
“As for the trip, both should get it and I expect them to stay even further in the future.”
Having looked over the opposition, Bell rates the Hughie Morrison-trained Banoffee, winner of the Weatherbys Bank Insurance Listed Cheshire Oaks last time out as the chief threat.
“I think you can pick holes in the form of the favourite Secret Gesture and for me Banoffee is the big danger as I have been impressed with her in both her wins,” said Bell.
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