“The thoroughbred exists because its selection has depended not on experts, technicians or zoologists but on a piece of wood: the winning post of the Epsom Derby.
If you base your criteria on anything else, you will get something else, not the thoroughbred.”
Federico Tesio
The Cazoo Derby of 2022 will be run in honour of the late, great Lester Piggott, who sadly passed away on Sunday at the age of 86.
Widely regarded as the greatest flat jockey of all-time, and the most famous, Piggott’s career was full of success that is unlikely to be matched.
A record nine Derby wins guarantees his immortality at Epsom Downs, a location where he enjoyed so much triumph in the Classics.
It is poignant that the Derby will be run in his memory, with the outpour of tributes a true reflection on his impact that transcended the sport he participated in.
He will forever be remembered as one of, if not the best jockey the racing world has seen.
May he rest in peace.
This year’s renewal has been eagerly anticipated and has been much talked about in the months leading up to the big race.
Antepost favourite at the end of last season became Aidan O’Brien’s youngster Luxembourg who unfortunately misses out due to a setback.
His stablemate Stone Age quickly took on favouritism as Ballydoyle dominated in the trials.
Godolphin’s New London was well-backed into a single-figure price before he disappointed behind Changingoftheguard at Chester and was subsequently withdrawn from the running.
The emergence of Sir Michael Stoute’s Desert Crown was somewhat of a surprise to most at the start of May.
He made only his second appearance in the Dante Stakes at York, where he beat Royal Patronage, and looked much more mature and settled than his lack of experience would suggest.
He dealt with the challenge comfortably, whilst probably learning on the job, and he looks a star in the making for his world famous trainer.
Hurricane Lane took the Dante last year, and may have gone on to win the Derby or finish closer to Adayar, if not for a stroke of bad luck in losing his shoes.
At York, questions were asked of Desert Crown two furlongs out and the son of Nathaniel responded in tremendous fashion, driving towards the line and ultimately winning the race with a bit in hand.
Most of the horses who finished in behind are unlikely to be of the quality the colt will face at Epsom, but the runner-up is a likeable type who last year beat 2000 Guineas winner Coroebus at Newmarket and was once fancied for the Derby himself.
Before Royal Patronage lined up against Luxembourg in the Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster, he was around a 14/1 shot for this Classic in antepost markets.
He was disappointing there, the effects of a hard debut season showing on the juvenile.
The post-race reports noted that Royal Patronage had been struck on his left hind, which is another reason to excuse that poor run.
Royal Patronage is generally a 25/1 shot for tomorrow’s race and may have a fair each-way chance.
He could be even shorter come the off which makes Desert Crown an even stronger favourite, given the ease at which he beat the Charlie & Mark Johnston trained horse.
Desert Crown is by Nathaniel, the fifth foal of Desert Berry who raced three times in lower class races, winning in her final appearance.
His half-siblings have never run to such a standard, and this colt appears to have inherited plenty of his father’s talent who was a classy and consistent performer, perhaps unlucky to have been around at the same time as the incomparable Frankel.
Nathaniel’s most successful progeny is by far the popular mare Enable, who enjoyed plenty of Group One success on track including a win in the Epsom Oaks.
Lady Bowthorpe is another filly sired by the son of Galileo, who went on to triumph in many races and gain a great following along the way.
If Desert Crown were to win on Saturday, he would provide his sire with his first Derby winner, and his trainer’s sixth.
As always, there are a number of rivals travelling across the Irish Sea, in an attempt to take the prize back to Ireland.
Ballydoyle send a strong contingent, three sons of Galileo, headed by Stone Age who impressively won the Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown last month, putting himself firmly in the frame for this Classic.
As a juvenile he raced five times, failing to win but gaining plenty of experience by running in Group races in a variety of conditions.
He travelled to France, making two appearances in different circumstances, and has won two from two over 1m2f as a three-year-old.
Ryan Moore stays aboard the colt who appears to be better suited to a longer distance. The only time he has failed to finish among the front three was when he ran over 7f in heavy ground at Longchamp.
He could be the biggest danger to Desert Crown, and if they are both in contention in the final furlongs perhaps Stone Age’s experience would give him the edge.
The apparent second string of Aidan O’Brien’s clan is Changingoftheguard who, in the same manner as his stablemate, failed to win on his debut season but is unbeaten at three.
Two convincing wins ahead of Artistic Choice and New London, respectively, have made him a single figure price for the Derby.
O’Brien’s Ruler Of The World is the last horse to win at Epsom following success in the Chester Vase at the Roodee, and Changingoftheguard will be attempting to emulate the 2013 winner who is by the same sire.
Star Of India is the third representative for the yard, the outsider and the least experienced.
He won on debut at Leopardstown, finishing strongly, before he faced Native Trail in the Craven Stakes on seasonal reappearance.
That trip was on the sharp side against some top-class pure milers, and this step up should be better suited to the colt who dealt well with an extended mile-and-a-quarter around Chester.
Sonny Liston finished third there, jumping off keenly and coming quite wide around the final bend.
He stayed on well, gaining ground on his rivals, but he’ll have to settle better to preserve energy if he is to stay the 1m4f trip around this undulating track.
Tom Marquand takes the ride aboard Charlie Hills’ trained Sonny Liston, who is best priced at 40/1.
Nations Pride is currently the shortest-priced runner sporting the royal blue of Godolphin.
William Buick has chosen to ride the son of Teofilo, who is out of Listed winner Important Time (Oasis Dream).
He finished second on debut before winning twice on the all-weather as a juvenile.
Over the winter he travelled to Meydan, winning over 1m2f before heading to Newmarket where he impressed to gain a Listed win.
He is the most fancied in the market of the Charlie Appleby trained colts, but as we saw last year, it would be dangerous to rule out the apparent second or third string wearing the famous colours.
Walk Of Stars has run greenly in two starts this season, but is well thought of and could be one for whom the trip will be perfectly suited.
By Dubawi, he won in his first run as a three-year-old beating stablemate Hafit and Andrew Balding’s Berkshire Rebel in a three-runner race at Newbury.
James Doyle was aboard the colt and will partner up with him again at Epsom.
In the Derby Trial at Lingfield he was slow to stride and couldn’t match United Nations for pace at the finish.
He’s an imposing type with plenty of scope and won’t want a slowly run race with a quick finish.
If the race turns into a stamina test, there are worse each-way options, and if Walk Of Stars is able to settle and travel nicely into the contest he may well be there at the finish.
Nahanni is the mount of last year’s winning rider Adam Kirby.
The son of Frankel made his debut in January, finishing second at Kempton before winning twice and securing a hat-trick of wins at Epsom in April.
There he beat Charlie Fellowes’ Grand Alliance to victory, with United Nationals two-lengths back in fourth.
Nahanni has run three times over 1m4f which makes him proven over the trip, and a win over 1m2f at Epsom has given him some experience at the track.
He wasn’t too visually impressive in the Blue Riband Trial, in the sense that he didn’t win by a great margin, as others in the line up have.
However, he stayed on gamely, showing grit and determination to see it through, beating a couple of very nice prospects.
Currently best priced at 25/1, he’ll surely be shorter come the off, if not backed with certainty in regards to his ability, he has course form as well as being proven over the trip, and punters won’t forget Kirby’s genius inside ride on the 40/1 backed into 16/1 shot Adayar in last year’s Derby.
There has been plenty of talk surrounding Donnacha O’Brien’s Piz Badile after he caught the eye with a gallant performance to beat Buckaroo who’d headed him in the final furlong in the Ballysax Stakes earlier in the season.
Frankie Dettori is set to ride the son of Ulysess, who has shown himself to be tough in battle and that is a useful quality to have at Epsom.
His form isn’t spectacular, as Buckaroo, and others who have finished behind, haven’t proven to be the most consistent and talented of horses.
Buckaroo is likely to improve with a step up in trip, but he is yet to show it, and Piz Badile will need to show progression if to beat all of his rivals to victory here.
Westover, by Frankel for Ralph Beckett, hasn’t done too much wrong in his career, with two wins and two second place finishes, but his form doesn’t read as impressively as many of the others.
In the Classic Trial at Sandown, he narrowly beat Cash who put in an eye-catching performance.
During that race Westover ran quite keenly, showing plenty of inexperience, and we may not have seen the best of him yet.
Whether or not he’ll be able to progress enough to be competitive in the Derby remains to be seen.
West Wind Blows for Simon & Ed Crisford is two from two and despite not competing in high quality contests so far he has won well and won in a visually impressive manner at Nottingham on his last start.
He could be overlooked in the market, is largely unexposed and could be open to plenty of further progression.
Masekela finished a short distance behind Native Trail on his third start, then beat Bayside Boy by a head in a Listed contest at Newbury.
Since then he has been well beaten in two starts finishing behind Royal Patronage and most recently Eydon.
He is yet to attempt a trip further than 1m1f and his pedigree doesn’t exactly guarantee a strong staying ability.
Glory Daze was well beaten by Stone Age at Leopardstown, but did finish as best of the rest. His two-year-old form was far from impressive, but he did win in his first outing this season, beating the highly-thought of Waterville and eleven other rivals.
Whether or not he’ll stay the extra two furlongs is a big question mark.
Grand Alliance finished half-a-length behind Nahanni at Epsom, but there is a huge difference in their prices here.
He has been a consistent horse since making his debut in December, but this requires much more.
He is another for whom the trip is an unknown, but he has dealt with 1m2f at the course before, and that will be in his favour.
Huge outsider Hoo Ya Mal is another runner saddled by Andrew Balding.
He was well beaten by Nations Pride in his last outing and looks to have plenty to find with him.
El Habeeb has only made one appearance to date when well beaten at Newmarket over 1m2f.
It looks highly unlikely he’ll be able to feature, but there isn’t much to go on in regards to his form which makes him interesting.
Prediction:
- Desert Crown 9/4 (NAP)
- Changingoftheguard 8/1
- Nahanni 28/1
- West Wind Blows 33/1
Best bet:
Desert Crown 9/4 – Sir Michael Stoute, Richard Kingscote
After much deliberation, the re-watching of races and trials especially, checking form and pedigree, it’s difficult to look past the clear favourite in this.
Desert Crown looked a wonderful prospect when winning the Dante Stakes with such ease, beating a field of opponents who looked out of their comfort zones a few furlongs out.
His dominance there, paired with the support for him in antepost markets, instils plenty of confidence in a punter wishing to back him at a short price.
As mentioned, his dam wouldn’t be known for stamina or producing staying types, but he appears to have inherited plenty of his sire’s talent, and as we know he has produced some lovely middle-distance horses, as well as useful stayers.
Desert Crown would be a fitting winner of the Derby this year, and there are many who would love to see Sir Michael Stoute return to the pinnacle of the sport with a success here.
This young colt will have an abundance of adoring fans and backers cheering him on to victory come Saturday.
By Katie Midwinter (03/06/22)
THE CONDITIONAL 