Godolphin finds new Derby candidate
As recent events around Westminster have underlined a week is still a long time in politics, and with plenty of horse-trading involved. The same is true of Godolphin.
Last week they were picking over the wreckage of Chabal’s dismal performance in the Dante Stakes at York, but the coalition of trainers who are brought together under the peacock-blue banner have found another candidate for next month’s Investec Derby.
Rewilding will now be supplemented for Epsom following an impressive-looking victory in the Listed bluesquare.com Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood.
Settled in fifth early on by Frankie Dettori, Rewilding handled the undulations of the track well enough despite hanging right going down the hill into the home turn. The slow early pace did turn the race into a bit of a home-straight sprint but Rewilding looked impressive as he cruised through to take up the lead before the furlong marker and then strode four lengths clear with the minimum of effort.
Just what he beat is open to speculation but, in a season when the strength of Derby contenders that do not hail from the Aidan O’Brien stable is almost as weak as the Euro, Rewilding’s stock is clearly on the rise.
The colt was making his first start for trainer Mahmood al Zarooni (pictured) following his transfer from André Fabre’s yard in France and Al Zarooni, who has saddled seven winners in Britain this season, said: “Rewilding was very impressive today and he showed us that he is a horse with a lot of ability. He coped with the course very well and I was very pleased with the manner of his victory.”
It was striking that Dettori should take the ride. Ahmed Ajtebi, Godolphin’s Dubai-born protégé, has been riding the majority of al Zarooni’s runners and indeed rode in the race, finishing sixth on Eavesdropper. However, Ajtebi has had only seven rides on the idiosyncratic downs track at Epsom and that appears to have weighed in favour of the vastly more experienced Dettori, although no final decision about who will ride the colt in the Derby has been officially made.
Simon Crisford, Godolphin’s racing manager, added: “Frankie was really pleased with Rewilding and thought that he won pretty easily. The important thing today was to see how he handled the undulations because he’s been racing on flat tracks and soft ground in France.
“He handled the course well, won with plenty up his sleeve and the plan now is to supplement him for the Derby. He’s been in Newmarket for two weeks but André told us that he held a very high opinion of the horse and he felt that he could be a Derby colt. We wanted to run him on an undulating track, get him out and see how good he was.
“He has an excellent temperament and he’s a half-brother to Dar Re Mi, so the final package will be next year and he should continue to improve.”
He will need to however, if he is to justify the £75,000 supplementary entry fee for the Derby, and the only horse to win this race and follow up in the Derby was Troy in 1979. Godolphin won this race in 1999 – formerly known as the Predominate Stakes - with Dubai Millennium who failed to stay the 12 furlongs of the Derby.
Stamina should not be a problem for Rewilding – by Tiger Hill out of the Top Ville mare Darara – and he could still be one of a Godolphin team lining up for the Classic. Outlining plans for Godolphin’s other Derby contenders Crisford said: “We’ll keep Al Zir, Chabal and Ameer in the Derby following Thursday’s scratchings deadline. Chabal is a clever horse and I think he wasn’t liking the ground at York after three furlongs - it was very quick there.
“He ate up very well after the race and was very fresh and sound the next day - cold and clean limbed - so there is absolutely nothing wrong with the horse but we won’t be running him on quick ground again. I think that every horse will be taken to Epsom on his own merit. If the ground came up soft, good to soft, or even good, then we will keep Chabal in the picture.
“Al Zir wants a trip and we saw that in the 2000 Guineas. It was a slow pace at Newmarket and he wasn’t suited by the run of the race. He wants a mile and a quarter at least, so he is either going to Epsom or the Prix du Jockey Club. Simon De Montfort is a possibility for Epsom but I think it is more likely that he will go to France for the Prix du Jockey Club.
“We still have chances in the Derby and we’re still in the mix.”
Epsom will provide the casting vote on how long they stay there.
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