Ballet to lead rivals a merry dance

Bolshoi Ballet can become the latest champion to hail from the Aidan O’Brien stable by winning the Cazoo Derby at Epsom tomorrow.

The son of Galileo bids to follow in the hoofprints of his famous father and High Chaparral, who gave the Ballydoyle maestro his first two Derby triumphs.

They took the Ballysax Stakes and Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial on the way to Epsom in 2001 and 2002 respectively and, significantly, those were the two prep races O’Brien chose for Bolshoi Ballet in the spring.

He did not disappoint, winning the two Leopardstown races over a mile and a quarter in the style of a potential Classic winner. If his Ballysax success was convincing by two and a quarter lengths from Flying Visit, then his Derrinstown display was nothing short of sensational.

Bolshoi Ballet destroyed the opposition, coming home six lengths clear of stablemate Lough Derg with subsequent Irish 2000 Guineas winner Mac Swiney fourth. If he has improved a similar amount from his second to third starts this season as he did from his first to second, then his rivals will not get a look in.

With his stablemate High Definition bypassing Epsom, Mac Swiney may well follow Bolshoi Ballet home. After all, Jim Bolger’s charge looked as though he would be suited by the Derby trip when winning the Curragh colt’s classic.

A likely outsider from the home contingent who could run into a place is Gear Up. Mark Johnston’s colt had Bolshoi Ballet back in fifth when winning the Grand Criterium de Saint-Cloud in October. The son of Teofilo disappointed on his return in the Dante Stakes at York, but connections have not lost faith and a much improved run can be expected.

Maximal can give Godolphin’s Derby hope Hurricane Lane a timely boost by winning the Cazoo Diomed Stakes earlier on the card.

The Sir Michael Stoutetrained colt ran the subsequent Dante victor to a length over a mile and a quarter at Newbury in April.

Maximal finished second in the Dee Stakes at Chester behind El Drama, who is not without a chance in the

French Derby at Chantilly on Sunday. Dropping back to an extended mile should not be a problem for Maximal, whose only success to date came over a similar trip at Sandown in September where he scored by five lengths.

The Princess Elizabeth Stakes, over the same course and distance, can go to Posted. The Richard Hannon-trained five-year-old has yet to score at Group Three level but she was a smooth Listed winner at Sandown in September and made a respectable reappearance behind Lady Bowthorpe in the Group Two Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket.