Talking Horses

One big prize in the bag - and another in reach for team Ballydoyle 

After Constitution River headlined a 1-2-3 Ballydoyle procession in the French equivalent on Sunday, focus shifts to the Betfred Derby (4.00) at Epsom this Saturday. Aidan O'Brien holds his customary strong cards and PIERRE BONNARD could give his stablemate and likely market leader something to think about.

Coolmore don’t always nail the pacemaker tactics — but in the French Derby they pulled off a tactical masterclass to beat what looked a nightmare draw at Chantilly. 

Ryan Moore kept Constitution River wide early, then swooped across to grab the perfect stalking spot behind his pacemaker before digging deep to lead home a Ballydoyle 1-2-3. 

The debate over just how good the run really was will rumble on, with some calling it workmanlike rather than a dazzling performance. But the big question is this: should Constitution River have gone to Epsom instead? For now, it is one big prize in the bag — and one still up for grabs. 

That is the position Coolmore find themselves in after Constitution River struck in Sunday’s Prix du Jockey Club. Now, ‘the lads’ will switch their laser focus over to Epsom — but have they been too clever in trying to land both the English and French Derby? 

Everything now rests on their current seven-strong entries for Saturday's Betfred Derby (4.00) showpiece led by favourite Benvenuto Cellini, PIERRE BONNARD and the rest of Ballydoyle’s Epsom battalion. After sweeping home with the first three places in France, who would dare rule out another Irish domination on Saturday?

Some saw the decision to send Constitution River to France as a clear sign that Benvenuto Cellini is Ballydoyle’s number one. However, Benvenuto Cellini’s win in the 12-furlong Chester Vase screamed Epsom. The Derby trip looks tailor-made for him. 

As we saw in France last weekend, Coolmore never go into battle without a plan, and in Benvenuto Cellini, they have a colt proven at the trip who should be perfectly suited by a relentless gallop set by pacemakers. 

That scenario could also tee things up for stablemate PIERRE BONNARD. By Camelot and bred to stay well, he is a half-brother to the year older Crepe Suzette, who stayed 1m6½f well enough to finish third in the Group 2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster. 

His pedigree screams stamina and he could easily end up a St Leger horse in time. Ryan Moore may still side with the favourite, but Ballydoyle whispers suggest the choice is not a straightforward one. The second string is said to have come on plenty since a disappointing Leopardstown defeat to James J Braddock over ten furlongs.

Like Benvenuto Cellini, he should relish it if the Derby turns into a proper war of attrition, while Item heads the home defence for Andrew Balding arriving unbeaten in three starts as second favourite.

He is not a flashy type, but his Dante win was packed with promise given he was reportedly only about 95% fit. If there is a star waiting to explode, he could be it if stamina is not an issue. And Ancient Egypt adds yet more spice to the mix, with Charlie Johnston thrilled by the way his big money Amo colt handled Tattenham Corner in an Epsom spin last Tuesday.

With rain softening the ground and more showers in the air, LEGACY LINK looks to have conditions made to order at Epsom on Friday — and she can strike for John and Thady Gosden seeing off the might of Ballydoyle in Friday's Betfred Oaks (4.00).

A round-actioned filly, she looked right at home on the track when changing leads smoothly around Tattenham Corner on gallops morning, and she backed that up with a sparkling piece of work last Saturday following her gutsy Musidora win in May.

Colin Keane, just days away from completing his first year as Juddmonte’s retained rider, is adamant she will stay the trip — and her fighting finish against Felicitas suggested he may be spot on.

She showed plenty of bottle at York. The race fit Felicitas looked to have her measure after she hit the front three out, and when LEGACY LINK was headed inside the final furlong, it would have been easy to fold. Instead, she dug in again and rallied in the last 100 yards. 

That screams class — and the extra distance at Epsom promises even more. On trial form, she has every right to be mentioned in the same breath as favourite Amelia Earhart after Chester.

The headgear does leave a small question mark over just how straightforward Amelia Earhart is and how she will cope in a rough-and-tumble Oaks. But if you want one at a price, ignore Aidan O’Brien in the Oaks at your peril.

O’Brien has farmed this Classic in recent years, rattling up five wins since 2018 — and two of those came from supposed second strings. That makes CAMEO impossible to dismiss after a Lingfield trial that screamed ‘sleeper’ in the Oaks market.

She stormed four lengths clear of the well-regarded Balding filly Prizeland, another who can outrun her odds, to record a faster time than the Derby-bound colts - Maltese Cross and Bay of Brilliance - in a head bobbing finish to the Derby trial over the same course and distance.

The Coolmore Coronation Cup (2.40) may have shifted to Saturday, but it still serves up a Group One blockbuster — and while the rematch between Jan Brueghel and Calandagan will steal plenty of the limelight, SEE THE FIRE looks a fascinating contender.

She steps beyond a mile and three furlongs for the first time, but there is every reason to believe this longer trip could unlock even more potential. Her pedigree is packed with stamina — she is a half-sister to last season’s Northumberland Plate winner Spirit Mixer, while her sire Sea The Stars brings staying power in abundance.

At the prices, See The Fire makes loads of appeal as the one who could pick up the pieces if the big guns cut each other’s throats. She already looks every inch a Group One filly and, with the benefit of receiving weight from the colts, could be a major threat under a canny Oisin Murphy.

Andrew Balding also looks set to play a major role across the meeting. While the spotlight will naturally fall on Item in the Derby, RESPOND looks one of the yard’s better chances on Friday in the Betfred 'Nifty 50' Handicap (3.15), while NEVER SO BRAVE is another fancied runner in Saturday’s Betfred Tattenham Corner Stakes (1.30).

Gary & Josh Moore know how to target Epsom handicaps — and ALPHA CRUCIS looks primed to go one better than when agonisingly denied in this race 12 months ago in the World Pool Handicap – one of two Friday entries.

A proven mud lover, he will relish any ease in the ground, and his course record is second to none. He has finished runner-up twice at Epsom, including in this contest last year on good to soft ground, and although he has to lump 4lbs more in this year’s renewal, he is capable of going close.

He kicked off his season with a cracking run in the Lincoln, finishing fifth of 21, and that should have blown away the cobwebs. Yes, he filled the runner-up spot three times last season and some may wonder whether he always finds enough in a finish — but that looks harsh when you dig into the form.

He had the misfortune to bump into the likes of Saddadd at Sandown and then Cerulean Bay, who has since been raised 10lbs by the handicapper. In a race where track craft and conditions count for plenty, ALPHA CRUCIS has plenty going for him.

Epsom’s local trainers love nothing more than giving the home crowd a winner — and Simon Dow could be the man to do it again in the closing 7f handicap (Debenhams Handicap 5.50) on Oaks Day.

Dow has already landed this race before, striking in 2019 with Corazon Espinado, and he looks to have another lively contender in the ex-Andrew Balding-trained filly MUSICAL ANGEL.

The big concern is whether she gets a run, with David Probert booked if she makes the cut, while a back-up option at Goodwood on Sunday - Elston Support Your Local Air Ambulance Handicap (5.20) -  is also in place if she is balloted out. But one thing is clear — she is thriving at home and has really come to herself since her Kempton debut for the yard.

Dow is particularly sweet on the filly, who is as genuine and good-natured as they come, and after struggling through a hard spring she is now beginning to look the part. In fact, the feeling is she could be good enough to pick up black type abroad for her enthusiastic owners in the future.

ATR TRACKER HORSES TO FOLLOW 

While Aidan O’Brien grabbed the headlines with a French Derby 1-2-3 headed by Constitution River, his son Donnacha had every reason to be delighted too after A BOY NAMED SUSIE ran a stormer in fourth from stall 13.

It was a run packed with promise. Marooned wide and forced to race off the pace, he was left with plenty to do, but he did best of the hold-up horses and deserves plenty of credit for the way he kept finding.

Still with a mountain to climb turning for home, he began to make serious headway from two furlongs out, weaving his way through traffic before finishing up against the rail and staying on strongly all the way to the line — never nearer at the finish. It will be fascinating to see where he goes next with Group 1 entries in the Irish Derby, Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes.

One from the gallops

PINA SONATA was notably strong in the market winning the Listed Snowdrop Stakes last time given she was ‘wrong at the weights’ on official ratings with 18lbs and 19lbs to find with the two market leaders at Kempton.

She gave her supporters no cause for concern landing the gamble in some style. She has since improved at home doing a sparkling piece of work in preparation for the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom and is a Group filly in the making going places for the James Fanshawe yard.