Derby signs Poundland deal
Social media ridicules Epsom infield renaming Venice Beach states his Classic case at Chester
The free-to-enter infield at Epsom for the Derby, one of the blue-chip sporting events of the summer, is to be renamed ‘Poundland Hill’.
Investec, the sponsor of the Classic, has entered into an agreement with fellow South African company Steinhoff International, the owner of Poundland.
The decision received ridicule on social media, but Markus Jooste, owner of Steinhoff, is a huge player in South African racing. He owns horses in England with William Haggas and Richard Hannon, and his Douglas Macarthur, trained by Aidan O’brien, won the Derrinstown Derby trial in Ireland last Sunday. Jooste also set up the Cape Sale with Bernard Kantor, the head of Investec. The owner of Epsom, the Jockey Club, will hope Poundland Hill is the start of something bigger.
O’brien yesterday maintained his stranglehold on the Investec Derby trials when, four days after his one-two-three in the Derrinstown, he repeated the feat in the MBNA Chester Vase.
The race was won by Venice Beach, who quickened up off the bend under Ryan Moore to beat the staying-on Wings Of Eagles and The Anvil, by 1¼ lengths and a nose. Godolphin’s Tamleek travelled well but flattered to deceive in fourth.
The winner, having his third start of the season, earnt a quote of 16-1 for Epsom. O’brien already has the 4-1 favourite in Churchill – though he is not a certain runner – while his runner today, Cliffs Of Moher, is trading at 8-1.
“We’re delighted with that,” said O’brien. “He’s a bit lazy and a bit babyish, so it was important to bring him here to learn. The lads [owners] will sit down and have a good chat about what we run in the Derby, but Venice Beach was in there tight on the fence – they always learn a lot at this place.”
One gets the feeling, however, that Cliffs of Moher is meant to be the one to take from Chester, in today’s Homeserve Dee Stakes. The Galileo colt was a 5½-length winner of a seven-furlong maiden at Leopardstown in October.
“He’s a very nice horse and we’ve always liked him,” said O’brien. “He was very green first time out and then won very easily.”