If the Epsom Derby was in SA

You guys would be going crazy,the `English` like to call it the biggest race in the world,yet with 4 days to go,No field ,No Draws and No Jocks..

GC organised the Mascot racing better last weekend!!

Well 5 days <

Please call it the "Investec" Derby.

txs

Godolphin add Rewilding and Buzzword to Derby

THE Investec Derby pot will be £150,000 richer thanks to Godolphin, who on Monday supplemented not just Cocked Hat Stakes winner Rewilding, as expected, but Buzzword, a Group 3 winner who was fourth in the Poule D'Essai des Poulins.

Explaining the decision, Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said on the owner's website: "We have decided to enter Buzzword in the Investec Derby after he worked nicely at the weekend.


"We have wanted to try him over a longer trip ever since he stayed on so well in the French 2,000 Guineas. His work was strong and this has prompted us to go for the Derby.

"We continue to be delighted with Rewilding and also have Al Zir in the Derby. Riding plans will be announced within the next 24 hours."

With the two additions, 15 colts remain in Saturday's Epsom Classic, for which final declarations are on Thursday.

Aidan O'Brien still has six in, including St Nicholas Abbey, Jan Vermeer, Cape Blanco and Midas Touch, though he is expected to whittle down his team.

Godolphin also have Al Zir entered, while owner Khalid Abdullah has leading fancies Bullet Train and Workforce.

Totesport reacted to the entries by clipping Jan Vermeer into 9-4 (from 5-2) while also easing St Nicholas Abbey out to 4-1 (from 7-2). Buzzword meanwhile, was introduced at 50-1.

Totesport spokesman George Primarolo feels that Jan Vermeer will go off favourite on Saturday.

"It's looking increasingly likely that Jan Vermeer will go off favourite for this year's Derby and will surely shorten further if Johnny Murtagh decides to ride him instead of St Nicholas Abbey," he said.

Ladbrokes have also shortened Jan Vermeer making him a 2-1 shot (from 9-4) while also cutting Workforce to 7-1 (from and Hot Prospect to 50-1 (from 66).

David Williams of Ladbrokes said: "The entire Derby market seems to now hinge on the Ballydoyle gallops. In the absence of solid news punters have continued to back Jan Vermeer rather than St Nicholas Abbey."

St nich confirnmed a non runner,even being rumoured retired

Cheers Bob R.I.S (S = Stud)

Fallon riding for Godolphin in the derby

Shake-up in Derby market on day of turmoil

AIDAN O'BRIEN hinting at his Investec Derby hand and Kieren Fallon getting a surprise call-up from Godolphin both threw the betting for Saturday's Classic into turmoil on Tuesday.

Confirmation that ante-post favourite St Nicholas Abbey was injured and out of the race was followed by O'Brien suggesting the French Derby for Cape Blanco, prompting Coral to remove the Totesport Dante winner from their betting.

Soon after Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford confirmed that Fallon would ride Al Zir with Ahmed Ajtebi taking the ride on supplementary entry Buzzword, the French 2,000 Guineas fourth.

This move prompted Boylesports to cut Fallon's mount to 16-1 (from 33-1) after trainer Saeed Bin Suroor issued an upbeat bulletin on Al Zir.

Ladbrokes later went 25-1 (from 33) about Al Zir, but also shortened Frankie Dettori's pick Rewilding to 8-1 (from 12).

At the end of a breath-taking day, David Williams, of Ladbrokes, said: "As punters got used to the new-look Derby market it was the Godolphin pair of Rewilding and Al Zir who came in for the most telling support. The booking of Fallon for Al Zir suggests that his price is only going to contract hereon in."

Other leading contenders to shorten behind 13-8 favourite Jan Vermeer included stablemate Midas Touch, into 6-1 (from with Victor Chandler, and the Khalid Abdullah-owned pair Workforce and Bullet Train.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Workforce, as big as 15-2 a day ago, is now 4-1 second favourite with Coral and 5-1 (from 6) with Hills and Stan James, while Bullet Train is 6-1 (from with Hills.

Murtagh rides Jan Vermeer in Derby

JOHNNY MURTAGH will partner both Jan Vermeer in Saturday's Investec Derby and Cape Blanco in the Prix du Jockey Club the day after, as trainer Aidan O'Brien on Wednesday confirmed Cape Blanco would bypass Epsom in favour of the French Classic.

The unbeaten Totesport Dante Stakes winner will be joined in the Prix du Jockey Club by Viscount Nelson, who will be ridden by Colm O’Donoghue.

O'Donoghue will also ride Ballydoyle Derby second-string Midas Touch, who won the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes. At First Sight, third in the same trial and also set for Epsom, will be partnered by Seamus Heffernan.

Completing Ballydoyle's big-race running and riding plans at Epsom, Murtagh is set to ride Fame And Glory in the Coronation Cup on Thursday, when Dixie Music will be partnered by Heffernan.

In the Investec Oaks Murtagh will ride Remember When, with O’Donoghue on Cabaret and Heffernan on Awe Inspiring.

Wee picture of your favourite horse dave

Thank you Bob "my hero" not sure how much money I won as a kid?

But apart from the big races Derby etc (beat in the 2000 by the Brigadier)

I remember going into a bookies in Newcastle, was best man at a wedding

Took a bet with Wabash, Petty Officer and Mill Reef and it beat the Italian star Ortis? by 4 lenghts?

I would say in these days and todays terms the biggest return I ever had, considering I won a Union Jack

If not mistaken starting odds 12/1, 8/1 and 5/4 and I cant remember the losers I back last weekend, plus the bridesmaid was a cracker

A day to remember! X(

Akdarena cut to 8-1 to give Bolger second Oaks

AKDARENA came in for support on Wednesday as punters backed Jim Bolger to train his first Investec Oaks winner since Jet Ski Lady in 1991.

As final declarations for Friday's race revealed no shock defectors and the four-way battle for favouritism continued at the head of the market, it was Akdarena and Ceilidh House who were making waves in the betting.

Akdarena was cut to 8-1 (from 10) by Paddy Power and Totesport and to 9-1 (from 10) by William Hill. Hills also clipped Ceilidh House into 12-1 (from 14).

After major upheaval over the previous days, the Investec Derby market remained largely stable on Wednesday, with Jan Vermeer and Workforce both holding steady at the head of the much-changed market.

Godolphin’s StanJames.com 2,000 Guineas ninth Al Zir, a $1.6 million two-year-old purchase, was trimmed to 25-1 (from 33) for Saturday's race by Hills and Victor Chandler nudged Rewilding into 8-1 (from 9).

The Dermot Weld-trained Rite Of Passage was backed with Paddy Power to translate some first-class jump form, including a third in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle, into success on the Flat at Royal Ascot.

The Irish firm cut the six-year-old to 14-1 (from 25) for the Gold Cup on June 17.