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This weekend’s Epsom Derby for colts is the second classic of the English flat season.
Run over 2400m, past winners of this prestigious race include some of the sports highest rated horses in Sea Bird, Mill Reef, Nijinsky and Sea the Stars.
This year’s renewal sees the Aidan O’Brien trained Australia as a short-priced favourite, currently trading at about $2.5.
Australia has impeccable breeding; his sire, Galileo, was a dual derby and King George winner and now is a champion sire, while his dame, Ouija Board, was an Oaks and a multiple Group 1 winner on the global stage.
Aidan O’Brien claimed he’s the best he’s ever had. This is a big claim for a man who has trained the likes of Galileo, High Chaparral, So You Think and Hawk Wing. He certainly has the potential to be up there. While Australia justifies favouritism he is a very short price.
Rivals include his stablemate Geoffrey Chaucer, who received some market support on the back of a strong training gallop where he got the better of Australia. How relevant this is I’m not too sure. Definitely on racetrack form, Australia seems a better horse.
Kingston Hill flopped last time in the Guineas finishing eighth. However his form before this of three wins means he deserves respect and this distance should suit.
Arod is an outsider who could have good claims for a place. He finished a strong finishing second in the Dante stakes recently.
One interesting runner is the Dermot Weld trained Fascinating Rock, a three-time winner this year. He is out of champion sire Fastnet Rock, who doesn’t breed too many winners at this distance.
The Derby is on this Sunday morning at 1:00am AEST.
Predictions
1) Australia
2) Arod
3) Kingston Hill
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