Royal Patronage

Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett (GB) will carry the hopes of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing in the G1 Cazoo Derby on Saturday week after connections ruled out running the promising Lysander (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) in the Epsom Classic. Runner-up to Derby favourite Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the Dante S. at York a fortnight ago, Royal Patronage will bid to reverse that form at Epsom, while Listed Cocked Hat S. third Lysander will be aimed at Royal Ascot following his defeat at Goodwood. Highclere's Harry Herbert said: "We had...

There is an abundance of potentially exhilarating 2-year-old action across Britain, France and Ireland on Saturday which will act as significant pointers to the 2022 Classics for which Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is already favourite. Whether Ballydoyle's latest G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy hope is the next Epsom Derby winner in waiting, as the current ante-post lists suggest he is, we will in part find out mid-afternoon on Doncaster's Town Moor. Unbeaten in two starts, with the latter resulting in a 4 3/4-length success in The Curragh's G2 Beresford S. Sept....

Shadwell's exciting 2-year-old Ehraz (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) may have an excuse for his last-of-five finish in last week's G3 Acomb S. at York after scoping unsatisfactorily after the race. The Richard Hannon-trained Ehraz broke his maiden at second asking at Ascot by 4 1/4 lengths on July 23, but trailed in by 7 1/2 lengths at York behind Highclere's Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). "We've just got to put a line through that; he didn't scope very well," said Shadwell Racing Manager Angus Gold. "It was too bad to...