Australia is one of the best O’Brien has ever trained
Betting for the two Epsom classics this week, the Investec Derby and the Oaks, is dominated by some of the bluest blooded thoroughbreds in the world. One can only imagine what Derby favourite Australia would be worth were he to win “The Blue Riband”.
The leading Derby fancies, (prices are those at the time of writing), are as follows:
Australia (8-11 favourite). Galileo – Ouija Board
He is bidding to become the 41st Group 1 winner for his champion sire Galileo and looks hard to beat after a cracking third in the Gp1 2000 Guineas. Unquestionably the world’s greatest sire, Galileo has enjoyed another tremendous season in 2014 already, and he is currently leading the GB/Ire general sires log. In 2014 alone, Galileo has already been represented by 14 European stakes winners, this tally including Irish 1000 Guineas winner, Marvellous, and Gp1 Tattersalls Gold Cup hero, Noble Mission. He is also broodmare sire of shock 2000 Guineas winner, Night Of Thunder. Galileo, who won the Epsom Derby in 2001, has already sired the Derby winners New Approach and last year’s winner, Ruler Of The World.
Australia is out of 2004 Epsom Oaks winner Ouija Board, a champion in Europe and North America. During her remarkable career, Ouija Board won no fewer than seven Group/Grade 1 races, including two runnings of the Breeders Cup F&M Turf. Aside from Australia, Ouija Board is also the dam of the G3 winning Kingmambo gelding, Our Voodoo Prince (Easter Cup).
Geoffrey Chaucer: (7-1) Montjeu – Helsinki
Winner of the Gp2 Beresford Stakes at two, there has been plenty of betting interest in Geoffrey Chaucer.
He certainly is bred for the job, his sire Montjeu having sired four previous Epsom Derby winners – Motivator, Authorized, Pour Moi and Camelot.
Geoffrey Chaucer comes from an equally distinguished female line. He is a half-brother to champion Shamardal, winner of the French Derby and French 2000 Guineas.
Now one of Europe’s top sires, Shamardal has been represented by 16 stakes winners this year including 1000 Guineas third Ihtimal. Helsinki, who is out of Irish Oaks winner Helen Street, is a full-sister to Dubai World Cup winner, and world leading sire, Street Cry.
Western Hymn (10-1) High Chaparral – Blue Rhapsody
Unbeaten in three outings, and winner of the Gr3 Sandown Classic Trial, he is bidding to become a first Investec Derby winner for his sire High Chaparral, who himself won the race back in 2002.
A top-class stallion, High Chaparral has progeny that include the 10 time Gr1 winner So You Think, top miler Toronado, and Breeders Cup winner, Wrote.
Like Australia, Western Hymn is out of a mare by top miler and consistently successful sire, Cape Cross.
What is striking about Western Hymn’s pedigree, however, is that he is intensely inbred to French Derby winner Darshaan (damsire of Derby winners Pour Moi and High Chaparral).
Kingston Hill (12-1) Mastercraftsman – Audacieuse
Unbeaten at two, when his wins included the Gp1 Racing Post Trophy, he is a son of former Irish 2000 Guineas winner Mastercraftsman, who has made a sensational start with his first crop (now 3). His first crop has already produced the group winners Kingston Hill, Vague Nouvelle, Amazing Maria (who runs in the Oaks) and Craftsman. Mastercraftsman has already one major Derby winner to his credit (son The Grey Gatsby won the recent French Derby).
It would be fitting should Kingston Hill manage to upset Australia and land the Derby – his grandsire, Danehill Dancer, was recently retired from stud duty.
Kingston Hill is out of the Gp3 Prix de Flore winner Audacieuse, whose sire, Rainbow Quest, sired 1990 Derby winner Quest For Fame, and who is the broodmare sire of Epsom Derby winners Kris Kin and North Light.
Granddam is a half-sister to French 1000 Guineas winner Danseuse Du Soir.
Fillies fancied for Friday’s Investec Oaks also sport superb bloodlines:
Taghrooda (9/4): Sea The Stars – Ezima
Unbeaten in two starts, the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes winner is bidding to give legendary racehorse, Sea The Stars, a classic winner in his first crop.
Sea The Stars (a half-brother to Galileo), was an exceptional performer, who won the Epsom Derby back in 2009. He has made a cracking start to his stud career, with his first runners including Gp3 winner My Titania, Gp1 Prix Saint Alary runner up Vazira and leading German Derby hopeful, Sea The Moon.
Taghrooda is from the same family as Derby hopeful, Ebanoran Rock – the disqualified winner of the Gp2 Derrinstown Derby Trial. This is also the family of Estimation, a Distorted Humor filly who made R2.75 million at the 2014 Cape Premier Yearling Sale.
Taghrooda’s second dam is a full-sister to the outstanding broodmare Ebaziya (dam of 4 Group 1 winners, including Gold Cup winners Estimate and Enzeli).
Marvellous (7/2): Galileo – You’resothrilling
Winner of the Irish 1000 Guineas, Marvellous is bidding to become the second Galileo filly to win the Oaks (Was having scored back in 2012).
She is out of former Gp2 Cherry Hinton winner, You’resothrilling – an own sister to Horse of the Year and champion sire Giant’s Causeway. You’resothrilling is also an own sister to useful local sire Tiger Dance, sire of the high-class performer Tribal Dance.
Tarfasha (6-1): Teofilo – Grecian Bride
Winner of the Gp3 Blue Wind Stakes, Tarfasha is an uncertain starter for the Oaks.
Should she start, Tarfasha will be bidding to become the first English classic winner for her sire, former champion 2yo Teofilo.
Interestingly enough, both Tarfasha and fellow Oaks contender, Madame Chiang trace back to the mighty mare Simon’s Shoes.(This is also the family of new Highlands sire Potala Palace).
Tarfasha herself is a half-sister to four stakes horses, including the ill-fated Irish Derby runner up, Galileo Rock, and former Doncaster Cup winner, Saddler’s Rock. Other top horses from the this family include former Epsom Derby winner, North Light, champion sire, Reform and 2000 Guineas hero, Golan.
Ihtimal (7-1) Shamardal – Eastern Joy
Winner of both the UAE 1000 Guineas and Oaks, Ihtimal was third in the Gp1 1000 Guineas last time out.
She is by red-hot sire Shamardal, sire of 16 stakes winners this year and also sire of dual French classic winner, and promising sire, Lope de Vega. Ihtimal, whose dam is by top miler Dubai Destination, is out of a half-sister to French Oaks winner West Wind (by Shamardal’s broodmare sire Machiavellian).
This is a family responsible for a number of outstanding fillies, including Horse of the Year, and Epsom Oaks winner, Balanchine (like Ihtimal from the Storm Bird male line).
