Recent Southwell novice winner Nightime Dancer (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) has been added to the potential field for the Betfred Derby at the latest entry stage.
Owned by Norway's Stall Perlen, the colt was bought as a foal by Peter and Ross Doyle for 110,000gns from his breeder GCE Farm and is trained by Richard Hannon. Nightime Dancer, whose granddam Ragsah (Ire) Shamardal) is a half-sister to Dubai Millennium (GB), has a fascinating pedigree as he is inbred to the latter's dam Colorado Dancer (Ire) and also to Urban Sea through her Derby-winning sons Galileo (Ire) and Sea The Stars (Ire), who features as Nightime Dancer's broodmare sire.
The colt was third at Newmarket on his sole start last year and he holds an entry for the G2 Dante Stakes on May 15. He becomes the fourth member of the first crop of Darley's Ghaiyyath to be given a Derby entry, after Gethin (Ire), Ivatt (GB) and Stanhope Gardens (Ire).
There are 91 entries for the Derby, which is to be run on Saturday, June 7. Wootton Bassett (GB) is the stallion with the highest number of entries, with his 12 including the Group/Grade 1 winners Twain (Ire), Henri Matisse (Ire) and Tennessee Stud (Ire). Frankel (GB), whose son Adayar (Ire) won the 2021 Derby, and Dubawi (Ire), the sire of last year's Oaks winner Ezeliya (Fr), are next with nine entries apiece.
The betting is currently headed by the Aidan O'Brien-trained Acomb Stakes winner The Lion In Winter (Ire), a son of the 2009 winner Sea The Stars (Ire). He is reportedly set to make his seasonal debut in a return trip to the Knavesmire for the Dante Stakes.
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