Mubtaahij wins in Dubai
A pair of runners by Galileo and a son of Dubawi are among the 429 entries for this year’s US Triple Crown.
Racing Post Trophy runner-up Aloft and the unraced Time To Inspire represent Galileo at the early nominations stage.
Coolmore’s perennial champion sire has had an entrant at the first stage for the previous two years – Global View in 2014 and Portmonarch in 2013 – but neither took up their engagements in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes or Belmont Stakes, which together make up the Triple Crown title.
Aloft, bred by Southern Bloodstock, is one of four entrants sent out by Aidan O’Brien for Coolmore, with a fifth for the trainer, War Envoy, raced in partnership between the team and the War Front colt’s breeder Joseph Allen.
Battle Of Marathon and Royal Navy Ship, also by War Front, have been entered by O’Brien. The fifth potential runner Smuggler’s Cove, a son of Fastnet Rock, finished third behind Belardo in last season’s Dewhurst Stakes.
Dermot Weld – four entries
Time To Inspire, a Moyglare Stud homebred half-brother to Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup winner, is one of four entries made by Dermot Weld. The Curragh trainer won the 1990 renewal of the Belmont Stakes with Go And Go for the same team.
Weld’s quartet is completed by Don Camillo for Stronach Stables, Tombelaine for Juddmonte and Sight Hound for Calumet Farm, the most successful owner in the history of the Triple Crown with 18 wins. Calumet is the most prolific owner at the first stage of nominations for the Triple Crown with 15 entries.
Mike De Kock – goes for US Triple Crown glory
Mubtaahij, a dual winner for Mike de Kock and owner Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, is the sole entrant by Dubawi. The Darley sire was last represented at the early nominations stage in 2011 by Surrey Star and Unex Dali. Neither contested any Triple Crown race.
Irish National Stud resident Lord Shanakill is represented by his first entrant in the shape of Dundalk winner Great Dancer. The colt, who hails from his sire’s first crop, was trained by Michael Halford last season for Mohmed El Circy, but has been entered for the owner/trainer team of Matthew Schera and James L Lawrence II.
Reigning US champion sire Tapit boasts the strongest entry numerically, with 14 horses. Curlin and Tiznow are both represented by 12 three-year-olds.
The Triple Crown starts with the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2, followed by the Preakness at Pimlico Downs on May 16 and the Belmont on June 6.
The title was last won by Affirmed in 1978.
