AIDAN’S EYE ON DERBY HISTORY
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AIDAN O’BRIEN will bid to become the most successful trainer in the history of the Investec Derby on Saturday.
The Ballydoyle legend shares the record of seven winners with Robert Robson, John Porter and Fred Darling.
And he could fire several bullets at the race in a quest to make it eight as he has seven of the 17 entries in the Epsom showpiece.
O’brien dominated last weekend’s Irish Derby when he saddled the first four home and recorded his 14th success in the contest.
If the betting means anything, O’brien’s best hopes rest with Mogul, the third favourite at 13-2, along with his impressive Royal Ascot winner Russian Emperor.
If he does decide to run all of his entries, it will be one short of the eight, he ran in 2007.
Irish Derby hero Santiago does not figure among the possibles despite the trainer suggesting that he was under consideration for a quickfire double.
Andrew Balding’s Kameko, the clear-cut winner of the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, is also among the Derby entries with stablemate Khalifa Sat.
Royal Ascot hero Pyledriver, who will be William Muir’s first Derby runner, is set to take his chance. His rider Martin Dwyer will be hoping the colt can add to his success in the race on Sir Percy in 2006.
English King, the mount of Frankie Dettori, heads the betting at 9-4.
The Italian, seeking a third Derby success, could have a stellar weekend.
He partners second favourite Frankly Darling in Saturday’s Oaks and will be reunited with Enable on Sunday in the Coral-eclipse at Sandown.
The winner of last year’s race will have a tough task with Ghaiyyath, Lord North, Japan and Magic Wand all expected to run.