The blue riband event of the UK flat season, the Gr1 Cazoo Derby is run today and is off at 17h30.
Twelve colts face the starter with Aidan O’Brien only declaring Bolshoi Ballet for Epsom.
The colt impressed the way he won the Gr3 Ballysax Stakes and Gr3 Derrinstown Derby Trial Stakes, both over 2000m on good ground at Leopardstown.
This was the same route to Epsom glory as his legendary sire Galileo twenty years ago. A record ninth victory in the race for the trainer looks highly likely.
Bolshoi Ballet runs for O’Brien
With High Definition going to the Curragh for the Irish Derby, Frankie Dettori has now been booked to ride the unexposed son of Frankel, John Leeper for Ed Dunlop.
Named after the trainer’s father, the blue blood colt by an Oaks winner Snow Fairy has only had three starts and improved in each. He was an easy winner of the listed Betway Fairway Stakes at Newmarket last month over 2000m.
This step up in trip is sure to suit together with booking of Frankie, but this is a jump in class.
Godolphin feature with a trio of runners with the pick being the unbeaten Hurricane Lane the Gr2 Dante winner with jockey William Buick retaining the ride.
This son of Frankel rallied when pressed throughout the final 400m of that race run over 2100m at York to repel all challenges. He handles the ground and is a player.
Jim Bolger, the veteran Irish conditioner sends out Mac Swiney. He is a son of the 2008 Epsom Derby winner New Approach and was a gutsy winner of the Gr1 Irish 2000 Guineas on heavy going.
In his previous start in the Derrinstown, he finished a six length fourth behind Bolshoi Ballet but was reported to have had a nasal discharge.
Stable rider Kevin Manning now takes the ride.
Third Realm for the Rodger Varian stable won the listed Lingfield Derby Trial on good to soft ground four weeks ago.
The way he quickened up around the turn and stayed on at the finish over the 2300m trip on just his third start was encouraging.
This is a jump in class, but the stable is quietly confident that this son of Sea the Stars can reproduce the performance of what his great sire achieved in 2009.
