Derby double? /O’brien’s Santiago may run at Epsom after Curragh triumph
Aidan O’brien has not ruled out the possibility of Royal Ascot and Irish Derby winner Santiago turning out again quickly in the Investec Derby on Saturday.
Due to calendar changes following the coronavirus shutdown, the Derby at Epsom comes after both the Royal meeting and the Curragh Classic this year, when it would normally be the first of the three events to be run.
O’brien won the Irish Derby for the 14th time on Saturday, providing the first four home, yet despite the race coming only eight days after his Ascot win over a mile and three-quarters in the Queen’s Vase, Santiago has not yet been ruled out of Epsom, along with those he beat at the Curragh.
Speaking on Racing TV’S Luck On Sunday programme, O’brien said: “It’s very possible (those that ran in Irish Derby could run at Epsom).
“I spoke to John (Magnier), Michael (Tabor) and Derrick (Smith), the entries are made on Monday so we’ll see what everybody thinks today and tomorrow whether they decide to make an entry or not.
“If any of them come out of the race exceptionally well and they want to make an entry, that’s what will happen. They didn’t do much today, they’ll do a canter tomorrow and a decision will be made some time during the morning.”
As for those targeting Epsom who did not run at the Curragh, O’brien said: “The lads are thinking about Mythical, who was a very nice twoyear-old last season, a Camelot horse, then there’s a horse called Amhran Na Bhfiann, who finished fourth in the maiden the second, third and fourth from the Irish Derby ran in.
“We’ve Russian Emperor, who won at Ascot, he seems to have come out of it well, then we’ve Mogul who seems to have come out of Ascot well. We wanted two races before the Derby for him which is why he went there, we were trying to squeeze two races into one – we’ve been very happy with him since. “The lads are talking about running Vatican City who was second in the Irish Guineas, so that would be an interesting one and the third from the Guineas, Armory, is possible as well, but he could go to France. Those are the horses in the picture at the moment that didn’t run yesterday.”
Meanwhile, Andrea Atzeni has been booked to partner lively outsider Highland Chief in the Investec Derby. The Gleneagles colt was having only the fourth run of his life in the Golden Gates Handicap at Royal Ascot, but came from almost last to first in the straight.
He was ridden by Rossa Ryan on that occasion, providing the jockey with a first Royal Ascot winner and also creating a piece of history as the first horse trained under a joint licence – Paul and Oliver
Cole – to win at the meeting.
Paul Cole won the Derby in 1991 with Generous, the same year in which he was champion trainer, but now the responsibility is shared with his son, who told Racing TV’S Luck On Sunday: “We’ve got Andrea Atzeni, he’s taken the ride.
“Obviously Rossa is a very good jockey, but on the big occasion like this, you really need someone who has the experience and Andrea has an amazing record at Epsom.”