Recent 2000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior was unbeaten in three starts in 2017, adding wins in the Beresford Stakes at Naas and Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster (by a neck from Roaring Lion, battling back to lead again final 100 yards) to a maiden win at the Curragh. The son of Deep Impact retained his unbeaten record, on his reappearance last month at Newmarket.

 

Saxon Warrior looks like he’s the one to beat and Nelson maybe the one to do it. He made all when beating Kew Gardens and Delano Roosevelt in a Gr. 3 at Leopardstown (2017), before finishing a neck-second to Roaring Lion in the Royal Lodge at Newmarket later that month. He again beat Delano Roosevelt (and The Pentagon) when digging deep to win the Ballysax at Leopardstown on his reappearance in April, and was clearly not himself when only sixth behind that pair and winner Hazapour in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at the same course last time.

 

Dante Stakes third Zabriskie and Rostropovich complete O’Brien’s entrants, the latter having improved when landing the Dee Stakes at Chester last time by three and three quarter lengths from My Lord And Master.

 

The previously mentioned Hazapour is out of a half-sister to the horse that defeated US Army Ranger at Epsom – Harzand – and the Dermot Weld-trained colt put himself firmly in the Derby picture when winning the Derrinstown. While it may seem harsh on Declan McDonagh, with Pat Smullen on the sidelines, the booking of two-time Derby winner Frankie Dettori makes perfect sense; a big run is expected.

 

Roaring Lion won three times over a mile at two, and if he shapes as if he will probably stay this longer trip, there are some doubts given the speed on the dam's side of his pedigree and the fact that the Dante was more of a test of speed than stamina; on balance, he looks opposable.

 

Guineas third Masar steps up in trip here, and like the majority in this field, is by a Derby winner (New Approach). Masar’s dam was a mile winner at two before winning the both the UAE Oaks and UAE Derby over 9.5 furlongs in the early months of her three-year-old season. Masar’s own experiences in Dubai were less enjoyable, failing to fire on dirt there in March, but he bounced back in style when making all in the Craven Stakes (Roaring Lion only third) at Newmarket in April and ran to a very similar level back there just over a fortnight later. He loves fast ground, should stay this longer trip, and rates a big danger to the latest batch of Coolmore Derby-winners-in-waiting.

 

French challenger Study Of Man won a four-runner Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud (beat the 108-rated Alounak by three and a half lengths, quickening to lead again under two furlongs out), while Young Rascal has taken big steps forwards since his debut second at Nottingham last season, much improved again when landing the Chester Vase last time by half a length from Dee Ex Bee, overcoming trouble and showing excellent attitude in the process; both are open to further improvement but will need to be in a race as competitive as this.

 

 

 1.Dee Ex Bee( Silvestre De Sousa Mark Johnston),2.Delano Roosevelt(A P O'Brien) ,3.Hazapour(Frankie Dettori D K Weld),4.Kew Gardens(A P O'Brien),5.Knight To Behold(Richard Kingscote Harry Dunlop),6.Masar(William Buick Charlie Appleby),7.Nelson(A P O'Brien) ,8.Roaring Lion(Oisin Murphy John Gosden),9.Rostropovich(A P O'Brien) ,10.Saxon Warrior(A P O'Brien) ,11.Sevenna Star( John Gosden),12.The Pentagon(A P O'Brien) ,13.Young Rascal(James Doyle William Haggas),14.Zabriskie(A P O'Brien)

 

Credit: Pallavi Shevade pallavi.shevade@secretaristworld.com