Epsom 2008 News
08:15 4th June
Frankie Dettori has picked up the ride on the Roger Charlton trained filly Clowance in Friday's Juddmonte Oaks.
Steve Drown has originally been booked for the ride but connections said Dettori had more experience at the higher level.
Charlton commented, "It is no reflection whatsoever on Steve, with whom I have a very good friendship and working relationship, and he has done nothing wrong on the filly. He has been very understanding about the situation.
"The fact that Frankie is available, and in view of his record at Epsom where he has a 23% strike-rate, it was decided we should take advantage of that. Steve will continue to ride for the stable."
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17:00 2nd June
Three colts have been supplemented for Saturday's Vodaphone Derby.
As expected the favourite Casual Conquest and Doctor Freemantle were added.Slightly more surprising was the addition of the French 2000 Guineas third River Proud.
The biggest surprise of all was New Approach remaining in the race even though it was thought he would be a non-runner.
As expected Henrythenavigator has been taken out of the race in which 18 are declared.
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13:00 31st May
18 runners remain in next Friday's Juddmonte Oaks at the six day declaration stage.
Current favourite Lush Lashes remains in the field although trainer Jim Bolger still has not made a final decision regarding her participation.
Aidan O'Brien once again is mob handed with seven runners declared (Adored, Ice Queen, Kitty Matcham, Moonstone, Sail, Savethisdanceforme and Tiffany Diamond).
Willie Muir has paid £20,000 to enter the Pretty Polly winner Saphira's Fire to the event.
Meanwhile in the Coronation Cup 14 runner stand their ground in what looks to be a high class renewal. Included is the Frnch challenger Getaway, attempting to emulate Shirocco's victory in 2006. The O'Brien stable has three entries Macarthur, Soldier of Fortune and Song Of Hiawatha.
Last years perennial bridesmaid Youmzain also stands his ground.
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11:00 29th May
Henrythenavigator, the dual 2000 Guineas winner, is "unlikely" to run in The Derby.
Speaking at Breakfast With The Stars, trainer Aiden O'Brien says his runner needs good going and the current going at Epsom is soft with no sigh of a drying forecast.
The Ballydoyle trainer said the final decision will be made in the next couple of days.
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Twenty Five remain in the Oaks at the latest forfeit stage.
ADORED (IRE) (Aidan O'Brien IRE)
CAPE AMBER (IRE) (Peter Chapple-Hyam)
CHINESE WHITE (IRE) (Dermot Weld IRE)
CLOWANCE (Roger Charlton)
HALFWAY TO HEAVEN (IRE) (Aidan O'Brien IRE)
HONORLINA (FR) (Claude Rouget FR)
ICE QUEEN (IRE) (Aidan O'Brien IRE)
KATIYRA (IRE) (John Oxx IRE)
KITTY MATCHAM (IRE) (Aidan O'Brien IRE )
LOOK HERE (Ralph Beckett)
LOVE TO DANCE (IRE) (Aidan O'Brien IRE)
LUSH LASHES (Jim Bolger IRE)
MAD ABOUT YOU (IRE) (Dermot Weld IRE)
MICHITA (USA) (John Gosden)
MILTON OF CAMPSIE (Stuart Parr)
MIRACLE SEEKER (Clive Cox)
MOONSTONE (Aidan O'Brien IRE)
PRIMA LUCE (IRE) (Jim Bolger IRE)
SAIL (IRE) (Aidan O'Brien IRE)
SAVETHISDANCEFORME (IRE) (Aidan O'Brien IRE)
SHY (Peter Winkworth)
SOINLOVEWITHYOU (USA) (Aidan O'Brien IRE)
SUGAR MINT (IRE) (Barry Hills)
TIFFANY DIAMOND (IRE) (Aidan O'Brien IRE)
TRY ME (UAE) (Clive Brittain)
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CHESTER VASE winner Doctor Fremantle has been cut to 10-1 (from 14) for the Vodafone Derby after connections said the colt would be supplemented for the Classic at a cost of £75,000.
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Connections have confirmed that Youmzain will run in the Coronation Cup on the first day of the Festival.
Mick Channon's charge was runner up to Dylan Thomas in both the Prix de l'Arc de Triumph and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes
The full list of entries as of 21st May
AL SHEMALI (Saeed bin Suroor)
ANNA PAVLOVA (Richard Fahey)
BIG ROBERT (William Muir)
DOCTOR DINO (FR) (Richard Gibson FR)
DUKE OF MARMALADE (IRE) (Aidan O'Brien IRE)
FINSCEAL BEO (IRE) (Jim Bolger IRE)
GALACTIC STAR (Sir Michael Stoute)
GETAWAY (GER) (Andre Fabre FR)
HATTAN (IRE) (Clive Brittain)
HONOLULU (IRE) (Aidan O'Brien IRE)
LITERATO (FR) (Saeed bin Suroor)
LUCARNO (USA) (John Gosden)
MACARTHUR (Aidan O'Brien IRE)
MARAAHEL (IRE) (Sir Michael Stoute)
MORES WELLS (Kevin Prendergast IRE)
MULTIDIMENSIONAL (IRE) (Henry Cecil)
PAPAL BULL (Sir Michael Stoute)
RED ROCK CANYON (IRE) (Aidan O'Brien IRE)
RED ROCKS (IRE) (Brian Meehan)
SAGARA (USA) (Saeed bin Suroor)
SEPTIMUS (IRE) (Aidan O'Brien IRE)
SIXTIES ICON (Jeremy Noseda)
SOAPY DANGER (Mark Johnston)
SOLDIER OF FORTUNE (IRE) (Aidan O'Brien IRE)
SONG OF HIAWATHA (Aidan O'Brien IRE)
TURBO LINN (Alan Swinbank)
YOUMZAIN (IRE) (Mick Channon)
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Dermot Weld has said no decision regarding Casual Conquest's participation in the Vodafone Derby will be made in the immediate future.
Casual Conquest is the 7-2 favourite for the Epsom classic.
Speaking on At The Races the trainer said: "I won't make a decision at the moment as there is no pressure to make a decision, we're not entered in the race.
"In my opinion the entry system is wrong. It's not to do with the supplementing but with the entry stages and the payments.
"We'll wait and see how he works next week. There's no urgency, there's no rush.
"He's in the French Derby and he's a big horse, he's 16.3 hands and he's only run twice. We'll review everything and see how he is next week."
If the horse is supplemented it will cost connections £75,000.
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Six-time Derby-winning trainer, Vincent O'Brien will be the Guest of Honour at the 2008 Derby Festival.
Nick Blofeld, Managing Director of Epsom
Downs Racecourse, commented: “We are
delighted to welcome such a racing legend
back to Epsom for the Derby Festival.
Vincent O'Brien said: “I am most touched to
be chosen as Guest of Honour for this year’s
Epsom Derby. I could never have imagined 80
years ago, growing up on our farm in remote
County Cork, that I would have been chosen
for this special honour.
“There is no doubt that winning the six Derbys
gave me the six greatest thrills of my life. The
three-year-old colt has just one chance at this
race, one day only in his life and I have been
so fortunate to have trained the six great
horses who won the race for me."
Wednesday, 4 June, 2008 8:38cSw1m -->Monday, 2 June, 2008 20:13