Mendelssohn to pull strings in Derby
WINS for European horses have become routine at the Breeders’ Cup in the States, but they have yet to crack the Kentucky Derby.
That could all change in the 144th running tonight at Churchill Downs when Mendelssohn represents Aidan O’Brien.
Like our own Grand National, the Kentucky Derby is the race that attracts the once-a-year US punter – and there will be a crowd of 170,000 on track.
Might the celebrations involve whiskey (with an e) rather than mint juleps – and a ceilidh instead of a bluegrass hoedown?
The stats suggest that Mendelssohn has it all to do. Remember the blow-out in the 1992 race for French wonder horse Arazi and the fact that the best the master of Ballydoyle has achieved in five previous tries was fifth with Master Of Hounds in 2011.
Mendelssohn, who has been transformed since wearing blinkers for the first time in the Dewhurst Stakes last season, is surely better than the best Euro near-miss, Bold Arrangement, even if the modest O’Brien plays down his chance of winning, when he says: “It’s something we couldn’t really dream about.”
Mendelssohn has already beaten the Yanks on their own turf when winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar last November.
Typically meticulous, O’Brien has sent the horse to win both ‘dirt’ outings in 2018, including the UAE Derby at Meydan when he won by 18-and-a-half lengths in a course record.
Among those present was Bob Baffert, trainer of tonight’s favourite Justify. Even Baffert is prepared to concede of the Irish challenger: “He’s powerful, fast. He’s definitely one of the top five in the race.”
O’Brien, a winner of 12 Breeders’ Cup world championship races, will be aiming higher.