Desert Crown can end Stoute’s wait for sixth Derby victory
Veteran trainer optimistic colt will provide much-needed lift O’brien and Appleby runners could pose the biggest threat
It is 12 years since Michael Stoute won the Derby but, on a weekend when there has been an enormous amount of reflection on the past, the Newmarket trainer can turn back the clock and win the world’s most prestigious Flat race for a sixth time with the inexperienced, but talented, Desert Crown.
After the death last weekend of the race’s most illustrious jockey, this year’s event at Epsom is entitled the Cazoo Derby (in memory of Lester Piggott), and the trophy can find a familiar home on Stoute’s mantelpiece. Though Piggott and Stoute never combined to win it, the “Long Fellow” set the trainer on his way by riding his first winner, Sandal, at Newmarket in 1972.
Stoute, 76, has been a part of the racing landscape since, although lately he has endured a dip in fortunes, the loss of his long-term partner Coral Pritchard-gordon in 2020, and a drop in numbers recently. Even he has felt the effect of the surge in successful young trainers in town who are climbing racing’s ladder three steps at a time.
Stoute is, however, a man to have on your side in this race, and with an improver such as this son of Nathaniel. What is more, for a trainer whose modus operandi is to be reticent about talking up his horses, the vibes from reading between the lines are encouraging.
He has used his trademark patience, after a small February setback, to bring Desert Crown to the boil. The winner of his only race at two, Desert Crown was, the trainer admitted, only just ready for the Dante at York.
He won that in great style by 3¼ lengths going away from Royal Patronage, and it would be surprising if he had not come on leaps and bounds in terms of experience and fitness for that run. In a race where one of the keys to finding the winner is locating the colt with the most potential to improve, he fits the bill. What is more, if the rain comes, he has already won on soft.
Breeding snobs will tell you his father, Nathaniel, is a better sire of fillies than colts, and if there is any merit in that, Desert Crown can be the exception that proves the rule.
With Ryan Moore claimed by Ballydoyle to ride the second-favourite Stone Age, Stoute turns to Richard Kingscote, 35. He might lack a little major race experience, as Walter Swinburn did before he rode Shergar, but he has come through the ranks. This is his big chance to take his rightful place at racing’s top table.
With two of the three Aidan O’brien runners, Stone Age and Changingoftheguard, having successfully made the running in their trials, and the third, Star of India, having been prominent, it should not be a complicated race tactically. The Derby is rarely slowly run. Kingscote just needs to be aware of the glory hunters, those who cannot win, dropping back through the field up the straight.
All three Ballydoyle colts look dangerous and picking Stone Age might have been less simple than it looked for Moore. Changingoftheguard appeals more to me and Wayne Lordan has a habit of popping up in big races on Moore’s discards.
The same applies to Charlie Appleby’s three Godolphin colts: Nations Pride, the talented but quirky Walk Of Stars and the solidbut-might-not-be-good-enough Nahanni. There might not be much between them.
Beyond that little sextet of dangers, a victory for Piz Badile – trained by Donnacha O’brien, who is young enough to be Stoute’s grandson – would end a long-term quest for the Niarchos family, who have been trying to win this race nearly as long as the Queen has been on the throne. He has the services of Frankie Dettori on board.
There are a couple of less-considered colts who might throw a spanner in the works. Ralph Beckett’s Westover would benefit greatly were it to rain all night and all day. He hits the ground hard, so his form and action says “soft”.
The other is West Wind Blows, the only other unbeaten colt in the field. Like the favourite, he has run only twice and he did look green and inexperienced on his one start this season, but he has passed both tests put in front of him and is blueblooded, out of a French Oaks winner.
His trainer, Simon Crisford, who was here as Sheikh Mohammed’s adviser when Lammtarra won the race in 1995, is not the type to tilt at windmills.
However, I believe that to the list of Stoute-trained Derby winners Shergar, Shahrastani, Kris Kin, North Light and Workforce, today we will add Desert Crown.