Friday rain muddies Cazoo Derby picture June 4, 2021 IT WAS Jimmy Cliff who sang that he could ‘see clearly now the rain is gone’, but I’m afraid yesterday’s deluge at Epsom has only muddled the Cazoo Derby (4.30pm) picture for me. With the sun blazing and temperatures soaring at the beginning of the week, we were all set for a fast ground Derby [...]
Snowfall lights up rainy Epsom with astonishing Cazoo Oaks display June 4, 2021 RAINFALL was the word of the day at Epsom on Friday, that was until Snowfall obliterated her Cazoo Oaks rivals by a record 16 lengths to give Aidan O’Brien his ninth success in the race. O’Brien has now won both fillies’ Classics this season following Mother Earth’s win in the Qipco 1000 Guineas, with both [...]
Johnson’s runner a Dream of a bet June 3, 2021 The Oaks might be the highlight on Friday’s card at Epsom, but there’s plenty of other good action across the remainder, including the Cazoo Handicap (3.45pm). This is a typically competitive Epsom contest with plenty having solid claims, but the one I like the look of is DREAM WITH ME for last year’s winning trainer Mark Johnston. [...]
All Smiles on the Downs for De Sousa and Balding June 3, 2021 ANDREW Balding has a very good record at Epsom and his MYSTERY SMILES is fancied to land the Listed Play Coral ‘Racing-Super-Series’ For Free Surrey Stakes (5.10pm), the race that follows the Cazoo Oaks. The son of Mehmas won his first two starts as a juvenile last season before being placed in the Group Two Gimcrack Stakes and the [...]
O’Brien filly looks Divinely bet in Cazoo Oaks June 3, 2021 TRAINER Aidan O’Brien saddles only the one runner in Saturday’s Cazoo Derby but fires five bullets at this afternoon’s Cazoo Oaks (4.30pm) in an attempt to land the Group One prize for a ninth time. His team are headed by the much-touted Santa Barbara who finished a close-up fourth in last month’s QIPCO 1000 Guineas [...]
Cazoo Derby Festival: Bolshoi Ballet and High Definition head Ballydoyle challenge June 2, 2021 Ireland’s champion trainer Aidan O’Brien has outlined his plans for the 2021 Cazoo Derby Festival at Epsom Downs. Already the most successful trainer of all time in The Cazoo Derby with eight victories, the master of Ballydoyle confirmed that the premier Classic, which he described as “the most important race of all” remained the plan [...]
Cazoo Derby Festival: Derby runners put through their paces May 26, 2021 Ahead of next week’s Cazoo Derby, a couple of contenders had their first taste of Epsom Downs racecourse and here are the thoughts of their connections. ONE RULER – CHARLIE APPLEBY “I was very pleased with what I saw there. He is a naturally balanced horse but he hasn’t encountered anything like that before. The [...]
Cazoo Derby Festival: Reaction from connections as Oaks contenders get first taste of Epsom May 26, 2021 Three of the main protagonists for next week’s Cazoo Oaks had their first sighting of Epsom Downs racecourse on Monday and here are reactions of their connections ahead of the fillies Classic. SAFFRON BEACH – JANE CHAPPLE-HYAM “She was nice and relaxed. She was on the right lead and you would have to be happy [...]
Cazoo Derby Festival: Roger Varian thinks Third Realm “ticks a lot of the boxes you want” May 26, 2021 Newmarket trainer Roger Varian thinks his Cazoo Derby candidate Third Realm “ticks a lot of the boxes you want” ahead of the premier Classic at Epsom Downs on Saturday 5th June. Varian, who has had only one Derby runner previously, said: “I thought he would run a nice race at Lingfield and run very well but he had [...]
Cazoo Derby Festival: William Haggas hopes Mohaafeth can follow in Shaamit’s footsteps 25 years on May 26, 2021 Trainer William Haggas spoke about his hopes for the Cazoo Derby Festival at Epsom Downs (June 4th-5th), which are headed by leading Cazoo Derby contender Mohaafeth. It is 25 years since the Newmarket-based handler landed The Derby when Shaamit took the honours under Michael Hills. It was Haggas’ first Derby runner and Shaamit was making [...]
