Epsom Derby
The Woogle Wood trained Thistledown is one of the highest rated horses in the event. She ran a very decent return race in the heat after a five week break last time. She has shown good form and from a good draw and with improved fitness must go close. New Scotland Yard has a excellent record in epic races – having won this race and a few other age epic cups before – and he saddles the Viking Power colt Luckbox as the elect of his duo. The three year old also returned from a break last time and stayed on well for a facile victory. On that effort, he is the one to beat. Stabbed Rat is the second of the NSY duo and will strip fitter after her nice third placed finish on Saturday. Valkyrie is one of the most progressive fillies around. This daughter of Not Too Soon stayed on well for second cheques at her last two stakes outings and the 2423m may be the tonic required to get her back into the winner’s enclosure. She certainly looks a filly loaded with ability!
The balance look to be under pressure.
| # | Form | Horse | Stable | Jockey | Final Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4,1 | Thistledown | Woogle Wood | Willy Vlautin | N/A |
| 2 | 1,2,8 | Dwane | Riffendal Stable | Clemmie Willeford | N/A |
| 3 | 2,2,1,1 | Luckbox | New Scotland Yard | Eldora Mcdermond | N/A |
| 4 | 1,1,3 | Stabbed Rat | New Scotland Yard | Rosette Leri | N/A |
| 5 | 15,3,4 | Thumbelina | countrry boy | Lorie Tallent | N/A |
| 6 | 1,2,2 | Valkyrie | Karaka Breeders | Ethyl Evertz | N/A |
| 7 | 9,7,11,6 | Livid Leonard | Le Saint Stables | Emmie Mahfouz | N/A |
| 8 | 1,2,7 | Bare Sinbads | swindin | Debora Sokol | N/A |
| 9 | 3,7,7,8,7 | Grady Turner | Beat the Clock | Mariko Methvin | N/A |
| 10 | 3,7,18,2,9 | Ridge Luau | Beat the Clock | Keren Carridine(A) | N/A |
| 11 | 3,3 | Two Jars | Gem State Stables | Nancey Koualeski | N/A |
Pre-race comments from:
Karaka Breeders – “Hoping for a slow track this Saturday as a heavy track will hinder Valkyrie‘s chance of bridging the gap on the mudlarks. She’ll be the better after this cup as her weight continues to lower.”
Woogle Wood – “Thistledown‘s heat was a fairly encouraging run, and she came through it well. There are question marks against all of the leading contenders, her issue being the gooey track conditions. She’s no New Terrain, but a place is not out of the question. Hopeful, never expectant, as always.”
Riffendal Stable – “First big cup final and looking forward to it. Dwane didn’t go well in the trials , I got the race plan wrong but now after a rethink hopefully she will improve much for this final. Though will be happy as long she beats at least one rival. “
Le Saint Stables – “Livid Leonard is one of two mudlarks running in Derby, with a slow track to suit the owner is hoping for rain and a heavy track will give this inexperienced giant of a colt a outside chance of collecting a paycheck. Regular jockey Emmie hopes to settle and relax Leonard off the pace or mid field let him take full advantage of Leonards’ affinity for a wet sloopy n boogy track condition. Worth a place bet at triple figure odds will boost trifecta if he runs a place. If by some miracle he wins the nudie run will be taking place at main beach with a accompanying bottle of champagne for modesty sake 😛 “
countrry boy – “Stable mascot Tom Thumb is a front running sprinter and a wet track with showers forecast for the Derby, he will open at very long odds. He would better suited in sprint race. But he had a strong showing, running on in the Derby stakes trial race. So Winton bush opal prospector and Rocky trainer decide to roll the dice, based on that showing Thumb has the slimmest chance of pulling off a miracle.”