A look at some fact and figures surrounding the 12 runners set go to post for the Investec Derby at Epsom (16.30).
Carbon Dating If the outsider of the field wins, he will be the biggest priced winner of the Investec Derby since Snow Knight landed the Epsom Classic at 50/1 back in 1974.
Trainer Andrew Balding will be looking to emulate his father by landing the Investec Derby with Elm Park this year. Balding senior won the race with Mill Reef in 1971 and they would be the first father and son to train a winner of the Epsom Classic since David O’Brien won with Secreto in 1984. David’s father, the legendary Vincent O’Brien, trained a total of six Derby winners – Larkspur (1962), Sir Ivor (1968), Nijinsky (1970), Roberto (1972), The Minstrel (1977) and Golden Fleece (1982).
Epicuris The French challenger is trained by Criquette Head-Maarek, who is aiming to be the first woman trainer to win the Investec Derby. Was rerouted to the Investec Derby after France Galop refused a request from Head-Maarek to allow horse behavioural expert Nicolas Blondeau to help with the loading process in the Prix du Jockey Club. Epicuris had previously refused to enter the stalls for the Prix Greffulhe.
Named after Giovanni Antonio Canal (or Canaletto), an Italian painter of landscapes, he will be aiming to emulate his brother Ruler Of The World, who won the Investec Derby in 2013. His sire, Galileo, also won the race in 2001 and has sired the winner of it three times – Australia (2014), Ruler Of The World (2013) and New Approach (2008).
If he is successful in the Epsom Classic, he will be the second winner of the Investec Derby to have been supplemented for the premier British Classic, following Kris Kin’s victory in 2003. Connections paid £75,000 to add the winner of York’s Dante Stakes to the race at the five-day stage. Golden Horn is a firm favourite with Frankie Dettori in the saddle.
Hans Holbein Is looking to become only the third winner of the Chester Vase since 1990 to go on to win the Investec Derby. Quest For Fame (1990) and Ruler Of The World (2013) were also victorious on the Roodee en route to winning at Epsom.
Could become the first horse since Mid-Day Sun in 1937 to win a handicap in the same season before going on to win the Investec Derby.
Kilimanjaro Looking to be the first horse to win the Lingfield Derby Trial before going on to win the Investec Derby since High-Rise completed the double for trainer Luca Cumani in 1998.
His sale price of 800,000 guineas was briefly a European record for a breeze-up horse when he was sold at Tattersalls last year. Is by 2002 Investec Derby winner High Chaparral.
Rogue Runner Will become only the second German-trained runner to line up in the Investec Derby. Chopin, who finished seventh behind Ruler Of The World in 2013, was the first (also trained by Andreas Wohler).
Is out of a half-sister to ‘Iron Horse’ Giant’s Causeway and is by 2009 Investec Derby winner Sea The Stars. His owner, Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum, competed in the 2010 Asian Games and won a silver medal for shooting in the men’s double trap event. He also won bronze in the same event at the 2014 Asian Games.
Success Days Has won two recognised Investec Derby trials in the shape of the Group Three Ballysax Stakes and the Group Three Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial (both at Leopardstown). Both Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002) won these two races before going on to triumph at Epsom.
