Saxon Warrior Draws One Box For The Blue Riband

Saxon Warrior | Racing Post

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Friday's draw for the G1 Investec Derby saw Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), like the Oaks favourite Wild Illusion (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), also in the perceived hoodoo stall one as he takes on 11 rivals, four of which are from his own stable. Aidan O'Brien took out the G1 Prix du Jockey Club-Bound Rostropovich (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and G3 Ballysax S. winner Nelson (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), with the stable's chief deputy Seamie Heffernan on board fellow TDN Rising Star Delano Roosevelt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Stall one at Epsom is one of those much-discussed jinx theories, but Oath (Ire) was just an average winner of the blue riband in 1999 and he came from that post position. The bet is that the draw will concern the Coolmore/Ballydoyle contingent and Ryan Moore about as much as whether Saxon Warrior's name will appear in chalk writing on the famous wishing well outside the nearby Amato pub. Of more concern is the ground, which remains soft, as Deep Impact was never asked to race on such a surface but his dam Wind In Her Hair (Ire) (Alzao) ran second to Balanchine (Storm Bird) in the 1994 Oaks which was hit by rain and in which the field came stand's side. Maybe (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) took the Listed Chesham S. on soft in 2011 and the family's Oaks heroine Dancing Rain (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) thrived in these conditions, but there is negativity creeping in where the outside world is concerned for the first time since Saxon Warrior won the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket May 5. The last time the Derby was hit by a thunderstorm, Dermot Weld capitalised with His Highness The Aga Khan's Harzand (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and his relative Hazapour (Ire) (Shamardal) is fine-tuned following his success in the G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown May 13. “Hazapour has an each-way chance, but I think it could be a really good renewal of the race,” Weld said. “It could be a very exciting Derby. The word is that the favourite is an outstanding colt, and the horse that won the Dante was very impressive. I'm happy with my fella. He's so laid-back. I was satisfied with his work the other day, but Frankie [Dettori] was delighted.”

Saturday, Epsom, Britain, post time: 4.30 p.m.
INVESTEC DERBY-G1, £1,500,000, 3yo, c/f, 12f 6yT
SC PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 6 Dee Ex Bee (GB) Farhh (GB) de Sousa Johnston 126
2 4 Delano Roosevelt (Ire) Galileo (Ire) Heffernan A O'Brien 126
3 3 Hazapour (Ire) Shamardal Dettori Weld 126
4 12 Kew Gardens (Ire) Galileo (Ire) D O'Brien A O'Brien 126
5 2 Knight To Behold (Ire) Sea the Stars (Ire) Kingscote H Dunlop 126
6 10 Masar (Ire) New Approach (Ire) Buick Appleby 126
7 5 Roaring Lion Kitten's Joy Murphy Gosden 126
8 1 Saxon Warrior (Jpn) Deep Impact (Jpn) Moore A O'Brien 126
9 7 Sevenna Star (Ire) Redoute's Choice (Aus) Havlin Gosden 126
10 11 The Pentagon (Ire) Galileo (Ire) Lordan A O'Brien 126
11 9 Young Rascal (Fr) Intello (Ger) Doyle Haggas 126
12 8 Zabriskie (Ire) Frankel (GB) Beggy A O'Brien 126

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