Irish Derby to set pulses racing

If the Epsom Derby succeeded in setting the tempo for this month’s flat racing action, the Irish equivalent sponsored by Dubai Duty Free looks set to keep pulses racing when it takes place at the Curragh on Saturday. A Group 1 event with prize money of €1.25 million the 2400m contest forms part of a superb seven-race card that also includes the €95,000 Railway Stakes (G2), the €62,500 Sapphire Stakes (G3) and the €50,000 Listed Celebration Stakes. Epsom conqueror Camelot heads a quality field of 11 runners expected to line up in Ireland’s premier Classic following Monday’s forfeit stage. A scintillating winner of the English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May and the British blue riband earlier this month, the son of Galileo will bid to give his trainer Aidan O’Brien an unprecedented tenth victory in the race. In addition Camelto will attempt to become the 16th horse to complete the English-Irish Derby double, and the most recent after High Chaparral in 2002.O’Brien has made no attempt to mask his desire of continuing his dominance in the Irish showpiece and has entered no less than five runners including Epsom Derby third Astrology, UAE Derby (G2) winner Daddy Long Legs, Imperial Monarch and Learn. Legendary Irish handler John Oxx, who won this race with Sinndar in 2000 and with Alamshar three years later, is also well represented with three contenders in Akeed Mofeed, Call To Battle and recent Royal Ascot fourth Born To Sea. Another local training great Dermot Weld, who was victorious with Zagreb in 1996 and Grey Swallow in 2004, saddles course winner Speaking Of Which. Light Heavy, a progressive colt trained by 1992 Derby winning trainer Jim Bolger is another leading contender. The son of Teofilo is bidding for his fourth straight success on Saturday. Camelot is the 1/4 market leaded with stable companion Imperial Monarch, who was eighth in the French Derby at Chantilly in June, a far-away 9/1 second favourite. Bolger’s Speaking of Which, an emphatic nine-length winner of a Group 3 event at the Curragh in May is next in pecking order. Akeed Mofeed is the only horse in the field with Dubai connections and represents Jaber Abdullah. Unraced since chasing home David Livingston in the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes at the Curragh last September, he is a 16/1 chance. Dubai-owned horses have made their presence felt in the race since Shareef Dancer’s victory in 1983. His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has seen his colours carried to victory by Old Vic (1989) and Winged Lover (1995), while beside Shareef Dancer, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, has won the race with Salsabil (1990). Godolphin, the Maktoum-owned stable, won the race in 1994 with Balanchine. Exciting programme The Derby is supported by an exciting programme which included the Group Two Dubai Duty Free Railway Stakes, the Group Three Woodies D.I.Y Sapphire Stakes and the Listed Dubai Duty Free Celebration Stakes. The three-day Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival gets under way on Friday where the Derby Festival Irish Stallion Farms EBF Handicap and the Eflow Rewards Apprentice Derby are the two highlights on a seven race programme. from gulfnews.com