This year's Derby is named in honour of the late Aga Khan, one of the most famous owner-breeders of recent times. His colours are carried by the supplemented Midak, an unbeaten 3yo with potential to leave his existing form well behind. It looks a superb running of the race, though, better than when Auguste Rodin and City Of Troy rose to the occasion for the last two years. Aidan O'Brien has had big words for The Lion In Winter but the stamina question hangs in the air after he was over-excited in the early stages of his York comeback and never seriously threatened, and it's DELACROIX (nap) who can do the honours for Ballydoyle. He has already shown some of the resolution of his brilliant dam Tepin, who could do it any which way, and it was encouraging that such a scopey horse could produce the speed he found when winning at Leopardstown in May. The main dangers are Pride Of Arras, who has been as impressive as any of these in the closing stages of his two runs, most recently at York in a well-established trial for the Derby, and the 2,000 Guineas winner Ruling Court. At bigger prices the Gosden pair Damysus and Nightwalker can also go well, along with Stanhope Gardens and Aidan O'Brien's third runner Lambourn.[Emily Weber]
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All three runs in maidens and he made all at Chester (1m4f, good) in May; low on the list in form terms but his owner, who also runs Green Storm, has had big-priced runners finish in the frame in recent Derbys, including for this yard last year, and this could be another surprise package.
460,000gns yearling; by Frankel out of a Group 2/3 winner at 1m4f; won a 7f AW novice on sole 2yo start and he's been coming into his own over more suitable distances this year; did not get the best of trips when second to Pride Of Arras in the Group 2 Dante at York (about 1m2f, good to firm) last time, being caught out wide in the straight, well apart from the winner, but putting plenty of beef into his finish; has worked pleasingly at Epsom since and should be right at home over the new trip.
By Dubawi out of a much admired mare who won 13 races, including six Grade/Group 1s at up to about 1m, and who has bred a 1m6f Group 1 winner; became well seasoned during a 2yo career which ended with a hard-fought second in the Group 1 Futurity at Doncaster (1m, soft) and has returned with two Group 3 wins at Leopardstown (1m2f; on good to yielding and good), the former from Lambourn and announcing new depths in the latter; still improving and he won't mind what the weather does.
Dam won five Group races at up to 1m4f and was touched off in the Irish Oaks; six 2yo runs yielded one win at 1m1f before seconds in Group races over 1m2f at Newmarket (good to soft) and Saint-Cloud (heavy); this new trip should suit but he dropped right out at Newmarket (1m1f) in April.
Out of a smart sprinter but it's stamina that he's inherited from his Derby-winning sire Australia and, following a French Listed win (1m, very soft) last year and a second to Delacroix at Leopardstown in March, he sent out a strong staying message when beating Lazy Griff in the Group 3 Chester Vase (about 1m4f, good) last month; his potential at 1m4f+ is clear but the tactical speed, on the Chester run, is less so at this stage.
Sizeable advance in form when making all in a Group 3 at Chantilly (1m1f, good) on final 2yo start and he looked to have gone the right way over the winter on reappearance in Group 3 Chester Vase (about 1m4f, good) when it wasn't a breeze for Lambourn to get past him; aims much higher now, though.
Made debut in March and is unbeaten in three starts; there was much to like about the way he raced, settling nicely and responding willingly, when making all on the promotion to Group 3 level at Saint-Cloud (about 1m2f, good; has also won on good to soft) last month; has been supplemented in honour of his owner/breeder, the late Aga Khan, after whom this Derby is named; something of an unknown quantity but his dam was a stayer and hopefully he will reward his famous connections with a great run.
Out of a Group 3 winner at about 1m2f whose dam's wins included one over 1m6f; 2-2 as a 2yo and he's finished a close third in both starts this year, the reappearance in a Group 3 at Longchamp (1m1f, good) working out well; a Listed defeat since shows he has to rely heavily on improvement for the longer trip if he's to make his way in this company; has been supplemented.
Tough display when winning a 1m4f novice on AW on return; however, he couldn't hang on to the first two in the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial (extended 1m3f, good to firm) and is down this pecking order.
Frankel colt whose dam never won beyond 6f but she bred a dual Grade 1 winner at 1m1f and her high-class siblings, including St Leger winner Logician, weren't short of staying power; he didn't have the clout for the Group 3 at Newmarket (1m, good to soft) won by Delacroix from Stanhope Gardens in October, for Sir Michael Stoute, but he was always likely to make a better 3yo; this might come too soon in his career but he was one of a few to come home strongly in the Group 2 Dante at York (about 1m2f, good to firm); now has cheekpieces fitted; the best is yet to come.
Granddam's siblings include Brian Boru, whose two Group 1 wins included the 1m6f St Leger, and Sea Moon, a dual Group 2 winner at 1m4f; never more impressive than in the final furlong when winning a 1m maiden at Sandown (good; unraced on slower) on sole 2yo start and his finish was deadly again in the Group 2 Dante at York (about 1m2f, good to firm) when, despite having little space and taking a few strides to pick up, he dashed clear of Damysus in a matter of strides; this will be more truly run but he's making big waves and there's no knowing how far he can go.
Well related but he didn't improve much from a 1m4f AW maiden win over Al Wasl Storm in April when looking out of his depth in the Lingfield Derby Trial (extended 1m3f, good to firm); a similar outcome is likely today.
By Justify, who sired last year's Derby winner, out of mare by another who won this race; he lost nothing in defeat to a sharper type in The Lion In Winter over 7f at York on final 2yo start and, following a spreadeagling win at Meydan, came from off the pace to take the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket (1m, good) in May; now goes into the blue yonder stamina-wise but his trainer seemed quite bullish about his Derby prospects immediately after the Guineas; out of the top drawer already and may well enhance his reputation today.
Pedigree has links to Derby and Oaks success; tenacious winner of the Listed Trial here (1m2f, good) in April but Group 1 aspirations are on hold after he finished down the field in the Dante (about 1m2f, good) at York.
Dam's winning siblings include Romsdal, placed in the Derby and St Leger; dug in late for a promising third to Ruling Court on Sandown 7f debut as 2yo and ended the season by making Delacroix pull out most of the stops in a Newmarket Group 3 (1m, good to soft); had a gift of a reappearance at Salisbury recently but if he's made the same progress over the winter as some of his rivals he'd be on the premises.
Out of half-sister to top-class miler Rock Of Gibraltar; upgraded his 2yo form when dealing with heavy ground to beat Green Storm in a three-runner race for Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud (1m2f) in October; the race looked to be needed when he was beaten nearly 7l by Delacroix in a Group 3 at Leopardstown (1m2f, good) last month but that's quite a gap to bridge.
Bred for middle distances but he was the sharpest tool in the box when having Ruling Court back in third in a 7f Group 3 at York (good to firm) in August on final 2yo start; inconclusive reappearance in Group 2 Dante at York in May, when he wanted to tear off early before plugging on at one pace when the cause was lost; however, he was said to be only just ready for that return and he did run a lot better there than the last two Derby winners from this yard had on their comebacks; some second-guessing is needed about the trip but he can't be ruled out with confidence.
Dam's winners include Just Fine, who won an Australian Group 1 at 1m4f; a low-profile 2yo career ended with a 1m AW maiden win but he led for a long way in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and did well to head the pack behind the first three; he was said to be only 80% ready, so improvement can be expected but it's unlikely to be enough for him to take a hand today.
Granddam is Oaks winner Eswarah; 2-2 as 2yo, latterly in a Listed race on soft, and ran as well as could have been expected when seventh in the Dante at York on his needed comeback; the bar is much higher here.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3,4
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
