The Derby Festival - Day Two

Fri 02 June 2023

Epsom Downs Racecourse

EPSOM - SATURDAY

1:30 G1 Derby

Unfortunately no runner for us this year but the Derby is always a great race to be involved with and we got a real thrill when Mojo Star finished second a few years ago. This year’s race is wide open, and there are plenty in with chances, but I do think Passenger was extremely unlucky in the Dante, when he probably should have won, and it has to be significant that connections have supplemented him. He’s trained by the best in the business when it comes to winning Derbys which is good enough for me!

2:45

Swift Asset (Andrea Atzeni)
He ran better than the form figure suggests at Goodwood last time because he got badly knocked about 200 metres out and never recovered, but he was running a good race that day and is very speedy. The Handicapper has dropped him down to a decent mark and he could be quite competitive off 80.

3:55

Forca Timao (Kevin Stott)
I was delighted with his run in the London Gold Cup at Newbury where he was only beaten a length and a half and a reproduction of that effort would see him bang there. He’s a colt we’ve always liked and he’s really starting to come right in himself.


DONCASTER

2:50

Serene Seraph (Pat Dobbs)
She’s a nice filly by Blue Point, who is a sire to follow this season, and all of her work has been smart. It looks a pretty hot Maiden, and she will definitely improve for the run, but she is very good and hopefully she can put up a solid performance.

3:25

Onslow Gardens (Pat Dobbs)
He showed good form as a two-year-old and I don’t think he stayed a mile on the ground at Haydock last year so he’ll enjoy this surface and we gelded him over the winter. His work has been good and he has a very realistic chance.

4:35

Thunder Max (Pat Dobbs)
He didn’t handle the soft ground at Chester on his penultimate start but ran well at Haydock last time and is coming down to a reasonable mark. He’s generally consistent and has won at the track before.

5:10

The Parent (Pat Dobbs)
He’s having his first run of the year but has done plenty of work and is a colt with lots of ability. A mile is his trip and there could be lots to come from him this season.


MUSSELBURGH

3:05

Heredia (Sean Levey)
She ran a great race on her return at Newmarket and, as we saw at Royal Ascot last year, she’s a very high class filly. She’s not particularly well treated with White Moonlight at the weights, but the step back up to seven is important and she should be hard to beat.

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