Equinties - Derby Saturday

Gm Equinauts

The day we’ve all been waiting for.

‘Because we’re going to see a superstar sire in the making right?… Right?’

No. Well, maybe, but probably not.

The day we’ve been waiting for is to get this damn race out the way and put all the boring CITY OF TROY propaganda in the bin.

It’s undeniable that we’ve had the strangest build up to a Derby ever.

Almost as if Coolmore have taken notes from the FinTwit community and tried to use memes to drive the value of their sh*tcoin $TROY., we’ve had endless barrage of content from Ireland telling us how good their little, sorry, big horse is.

Whatever happens today, we need to say one thing first -

STOP COMPARING CITY OF TROY TO AUGUSTE RODIN.

COT is by JUSTIFY who, although stayed 1m4f in the Belmont (less of a stamina test around two bends and a flat track), was more a miler and like his sire SCAT DADDY is putting speed and precocity in to his progeny. CoT is o/o a mare who won a Gr1 as a 2yo but didn’t reach the same heights as a 3yo failing to place.

AUGUSTE RODIN stumbled in his Guineas with his chances of success diminished straight off the bat. Secondly he is by the late DEEP IMPACT and o/o a mare who was second in the Oaks and won Gr1s at 3 and 4. DEEP IMPACT never raced shorter than 1m2f and won Group 1s over 1m4, 1m7f and even 2m.

AUGUSTE RODIN was bred for the Derby, COT’s make up leaves a huge question mark our money won’t depend one.

Before we dive in:

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Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

UP TO ASCOT

We’ll save our full review of Oaks and Derby Day for Monday’s newsletter, but one area we’ll explore while it’s hot is the run of EMILY UPJOHN in the Group 1 Coronation Cup.

To our eye (and other people’s eyes), she lacked fitness. As she ran in the Sheema Classic in March, we questioned whether she would be at full fitness after coming back from Meydan, settling back in to Newmarket, and then coming back into full training.

It seemed as if this was the case, but we want to highlight the comments of John Gosden both pre and post race.

In a pre-race piece on irishracing.com, he said: “She worked very nicely last week and I’m pleased with her.”

However, in his pre-race interview with Matt Chapman on ITV, he admitted that she would need the run, something he then said post-race on ITV again and then triple-downed on in the Racing Post.

He said: “I did warn the race would bring her on. She's virtually only run twice in the last year and her home work has been somewhat idle."

Gosden is a legend of the sport and he does many good things for horse racing, but this isn’t really on. Why did his stories change? He’s either finding an excuse for a poor performance or he has deceived the public. Either way, he should be open and honest and stick to the same story - for the publics sake.

Anyway, now that she’ll come on for the run, Royal Ascot is on the agenda, as he said: "We will be back in good order at Ascot. We'll look at something like the Hardwicke. She needs racing now and that will bring her on a lot."

TEEJ A STAR IN WOODCOTE

Another horse we probably won’t cover in Monday’s newsletter that deserves a shout is the winner of yesterday’s opener, TEEJ A.

The success marked two winners in four years for Nick Bradley, and he did it with another filly too having won the Woodcote Stakes with OSCULA in 2021.

It was all a bit too simple for TEEJ A yesterday. She jumped well, sat in a great position, kicked clear, and didn’t look like stopping at the line.

In a post-race interview, Bradley said he thought she was something special after her Chester win, and this is a feeling that trainer Karl Burke shares as he has lofty targets for her.

He said: "We could go to Royal Ascot, she has the ability for it, but I think since she's got growing to do. Why rush her back?

"We could maybe go for a nice Group race in France to try and get some black type. I'd be looking at Cheveley Parks and things like that later in the year, which could really give her a chance to fulfil her potential."

Although the Woodcote looked like a weak renewal coming into the race, the winner looks well-above average and she is one to be excited for.

More: https://www.racingpost.com/news/reports/why-rush-her-back-karl-burke-sets-out-autumn-target-cheveley-park-via-black-type-race-in-france-for-impressive-teej-a-aqgjU1Y5kWpp/

ACORNS TO OAKS - PEDIGREE INSIGHT 

DUBAWI with another Classic winner this time at Epsom in the Oaks with EZELIYA - a first for the Darley poster boy.

DUBAWI also sired the runner up DANCE SEQUENCE who looked very lost in the last furlong. When you actually delve into their pedigrees the stamina influences are there in abundance.

Starting with the Aga Khan filly, her mother was placed in the Hong Kong Vase, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks. EZELIYA’s grandmother won the Irish Oaks and in turn is a sister to two Gold Cup winners ESTIMATE and ENZELI. DUBAWI has just injected some speed into the family, which it probably needed!

DANCE SEQUENCE’s dam, TEARLESS, is by STREET CRY and she had won over 1m2f, twice. Her dam Playful Act was trained by John Gosden, she was second in an Irish Oaks for Robert Sangster. As well as Tearless, Playful Act also produced Anjaz by Street Cry and she had also produced a good horse by Dubawi in DUBAI FUTURE. Dubai Future gave BGP a big pay day when he won at Ascot at 20/1, in the Wolferton Stakes 1m2f. The 3rd dam, and bear with me, produced Nathaniel who has sired two Epsom Classic winners Enable and Desert Crown.

Big run by WAR CHIMES in 3rd for David Menuisier, originally a €62,000 yearling. He’s a class trainer! Worked his way all the way to the top of his profession. Never inherited a stack of money or a yard from Mummy and Daddy. DEVILS POINT has won the German 2000 Guineas for the yard. TAMFANA was ridiculously unlucky in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. SUNWAY is looking to conquer the French Derby tomorrow for the team.

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