World attempts to Rule in Irish Derby.

Today is Derby Day at The Curragh in Co.Kildare. One of Europe's best races and the second Irish classic race for three year old colts. This race has thrown up some memorable winners over the years including Shergar, Balanchine ( one of only three fillies to win the race back in the 90's) ,Galileo, High Chaparral, Camelot etc. 

A total of 16 horses have completed the unique Epsom-Curragh Derby Double including the previous named horses (except Balanchine who previously won the Epsom Oaks). Ruler of The World bids to become the 17th horse to achieve the double tomorrow and also bid to give Aidan O Brien a record 11th winner of the race. Coolmore and Ballydoyle have won this race for the last 7 consecutive years and tomorrow they bid to make it 8. 

The first three home in the Epsom Derby Ruler Of The World, Libertarian and Galileo Rock renew rivalry tomorrow. They face a further six rivals including progressive Group three winner Sugar Boy (who had both Libertarian and Galileo Rock behind him at Sandown), Jim Bolger relies on his consistent  Irish Guineas third and Dante stakes runner up Trading Leather. Both Little White Cloud and Ralston Road take significant step up in class each having scored or placed at Group level. The field is completed by pacemakers Festive Cheer and Cap O Rushes. 

Ruler Of The World comes to the Curragh on the back of a three race unbeaten run his first run at Group one level was the derby. He won his debut as a three year old easily at the Curragh and conditions should suit him. He is a half brother to 10F specialist Duke Of Marmalade. 

Libertarian is said to have come out of Epsom as a "sharper" horse this time around. This son of New Approach showed his Dante win was no fluke when running a fine second at Epsom. Libertarian will then join Saaed Bin Suroors stable inNewmarket having been subsequently bought by Godolphin. 

Sugar Boy who will have his first start at the highest level will also move from his current trainer Patrick Prendergast after been bought by Sheikh Bin Kalifa Al Maktoum, a new trainer has yet to be decided for this extremely exciting son of Authorized. 

Galileo Rock is also another progressive and potentially exciting horse after his brilliant run at Epsom. He could make into a serious older horse for next year. 

Trading Leather for Jim Bolger bids to give him his first Irish Derby since St Jovite back in 1992, this Group three winning son of Teofilo deserves to take his chance.

This years Irish Derby looks very competitive on paper. It's hard to fault the Epsom winner on his current form given there's plenty more to come from him. Sugar Boy for me is potentially very exciting and I would strongly consider punters to place him. He's sure to be in the top three. Libertarian is probably the biggest danger. Ruler Of The World won't have it as easy this time around. 

By 6:40pm we should know the winner of the 2013 Irish Derby and will Ruler Of The World rule supreme against his peers. It promises to be a cracking race in store.  

What next for Camelot??

Today the Prince Of Wales over 10F was the main Group one feature at Royal Ascot today. 

Gale Force Ten started the day off brilliantly for Aidan O Brien and Coolmore when the son of Oasis Dream held on to win the Group three Jersey Stakes. With such a fantastic start by Coolmore their star colt Camelot was favoured to keep the winning trend for the stable going in the Prince Of Wales stakes.

The Prince Of Wales Stakes at 15:45 was the race billed as the Re-match between Camelot and Al Kazeem. The pair had locked horns at the Curragh a few weeks earlier with Al Kazeem running down his arch rival in the manner of a very good horse. 

Camelot went to Ascot with a mission, to win the Prince Of Wales and gain back the reputation and respect he once had. Sadly things did not go his way and he finished a very disappointing fourth having been ridden in mid division through the race. The colt could find no more when asked and the race was left to be battled between Al Kazeem and Mukhadram with the former gaining his 2nd Group one. 

Camelot's reputation and respect by the public was lost when he crossed the line in fourth today. The question now is what can Coolmore do to get this colt to attract breeders to send their best mares to him when he retires. 

One does think that had Camelot been retired at the end of his three year old season, it would have been better for his stud career. He would have appealed breeders more. An unbeaten Group one two year old and a three time classic winner. His disappointing performance in the Arc can be affordably forgiven after a hard season plus the bout of colic.

Coolmore are not giving up on this colt with the Eclipse Stakes again at 10F talked of as the colts next start. If he does turn up he will be sure to meet Al Kazeem for the third time. Camelot's reputation is now badly damaged a win in the eclipse may or may not help his stud value. If he is to attract the best mares his record needs to improve drastically. But if he loses again then Coolmore may find it hard to get the mares from outside breeders. 

Camelot is a beautiful talented colt and I can only hope that breeders and the public will give him a chance. And I hope he can someday reward the faith that his fans and Coolmore have put into him.

Coronation Stakes : Guineas winners set for mouthwatering rematch

This years Coronation Stakes at Ascot is shaping up to be one of the best renewals. Richard Hannon's dual Group 1 and classic filly Sky Lantern takes on fellow classic winner Just The Judge. Less than 1/2  a length separated them at Newmarket with Sky Lantern just edging out the previously unbeaten Just The Judge.

The Coronation stakes has been won by some of Europe's best three year old fillies including Lush Lashes, Attraction, Immortal Verse, Russian Rhythm, Ghanaati and Lillie Langtry.

Sky Lantern is the winner of four races from eight starts now a Group 1 winner at 2 and 3. She has only been out of the frame once in eight starts when things didn't go her way in the Breeders Cup juvenile fillies race and she came home 8th. Just The Judge is the winner of four of her five starts. Neither fillies have raced around Ascot and it will be interesting to see how they cope with the atmosphere and the track.

France won the race with the classy Immortal Verse in 2011 and they rely on dual Group 1 winner Flotilla. A winner of the Breeders Cup Juvenile fillies race at 2. She returned earlier this year to win the French 1,000 Guineas. If M Delzangles decided to run her she could be the one to stop the big two.

Juddmonte Farms have recently supplemented in Pavlosk for the race at a fee of £25,000. This daughter of Arch is unbeaten in two starts winning her Listed race by 3 1/2 lengths last time out. It is a huge step up in class for this very green filly, but she may sneak into a place. They may also be represented by Big Break this sister to the high class Famous Name won the Group 3 Killavullen Stakes as a two year old when she had subsequent classic winner Magician behind her. She was a near fourth to Just The Judge in the Guineas.

Another interesting runner is Jim Bolger's Authorized filly Rehn's Nest a winner of the Group 3 Lodge Park Stud  Stakes at The Curragh in early April. She finished 2nd to Just The Judge at The Curragh and deserves to take her chance.

The field could also be completed by Purr Along, Moth, Maureen, Viztoria, SendMyLoveToRose, Snow Queen, Hanky Panky, Lovely Pass, Hot Snap. Most of these fillies  have either won/placed at Group/Group 1 level.

St James Palace Stakes: Dawn Approach and Magician the battle for top miler

The St James Palace stakes looks intriguing this year with the winners of the  English and Irish 2,000 guineas set to battle for supremacy. Dawn Approach versus the highly touted Magician. Also in the field is Craven stakes hero Toronado. He looked to be Dawn Approach's danger at Newmarket but he never threatened and finished fourth in the race. He is back at Ascot looking  to get himself his first Group one.

Dawn Approach has been quickly supplemented for the race after losing his unbeaten record and trailing home last of 12 runners in the Derby over two weeks ago. He is back at a mile this time and this is his definite trip he should prove hard to beat as long as his recent Epsom performance hasn't taken the zest out of him. 

Magician is an interesting horse a very good winner of the Irish 2,000 guineas. He had previously been a dominant winner of the Dee stakes over 10F at Chester. He has shown he stays 10F but also gets the mile trip very well as he showed in the guineas. 

Dundonnell, Glory Awaits, George Vancouver and Leitir More could also run with the last two named being stable companions of Magician and Dawn Approach with the latters stablemate victorious in the Group three Ballycorus Stakes at Leopardstown yesterday. 

This race like the Prince Of Wales looks to be a battle between the two market leaders Magician and Dawn Approach and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top or will it go to a less fancied horse like Toronado, Dundonnell, Leitir Mor or George Vancouver with each of these horses victorious at Group/Group 1 level. It looks a fascinating renewal. 

Royal Ascot 2013: Coventry Stakes Group two: Sir John Hawkins

The Coventry Stakes this year at Ascot promises to be a cracker of a race. This Group two contest for two year old colts has been won by some top class horses most notably Dawn Approach who beat subsequent Prix Jean Luc Lagadere winner Olympic Glory last year. 

Other past winners of the race include Canford Cliffs, HenryTheNavigator and Power all these horses went on to become Group one winners at three. 

Sir John Hawkins was an impressive debut winner at the Curragh a few weeks ago. He is an outstandingly bred colt by HenryTheNavigator he is out of four time Group one winner Peeping Fawn whose first foal Purely Priceless (Galileo) was recently placed on her debut as a three year old. 

Aidan O Brien has won this race with some top class colts and if Sir John Hawkins prevails in this race he looks sure to be one of those. He's bred to be a top class miler with his dam and sire both multiple group one winners and the vibes from Ballydoyle about this colt are that he could be "special". 

O Brien also has other highly touted colts entered including Stubbs, War Command and Coach House the biggest British danger looks to be from Thunder Strike an unbeaten son of last years champion freshman sire Sakhee's Secret. 

As always the Coventry Stakes looks to be a fascinating race in store and there will be no doubt that we will see future Group one winners in action. 

Camelot and Al Kazeem set for Royal Rematch

The Prince Of Wales Stakes at Ascot looks set to be a rematch between Dual Derby and Guineas hero Camelot and rising star Al Kazeem. 

Camelot goes to Ascot with something major to prove. An unbeaten group one winning two year old Camelot went on to win the Guineas and Derby double. He was so narrowly denied a win in the St Leger robbing him of Triple Crown Glory. A disappointing performance in the Arc followed and it was discovered Camelot had colic. What started off as the perfect year ended in disappointment for Camelot.

Al Kazeem meanwhile is a five year old making his way up the ladder. A lightly raced son of Dubawi, Al Kazeem was an impressive winner of the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket GR2 and also at Sandown. 

The Tattersalls Gold Cup was billed as the race for Camelot to get himself back on the rebound after a workmanlike performance on his first start at four. Al Kazeem meanwhile was seen as the real danger an impressive winner at Sandown last time out he was making his first start at the highest level. 

Al Kazeem duly obliged and in doing so he gave the impression that he could be a serious horse. Camelot was subjected to the manner of being a "hype" horse. Aidan O Brien has been stating numerous times that Camelot is the best horse he's ever trained. 

Camelot's race form hasn't worked out very well and it has dented his reputation even when he won the classic races he was always in the shadow of Frankel. 

Camelot goes to Royal Ascot with a reputation to fix and the racing public feel he also has a lot to prove. Personally I feel that Camelot has to win this race in order to save his reputation. I also feel that if APOB has him in top shape Al Kazeem and other rivals will and should find it tough to get passed him. But sadly even with all that he achieved Camelot in the publics eye is now a "hype" horse that must prove himself on the big stage.