LONDON // The build-up to the English Derby at Epsom on Saturday has been overshadowed by the late intervention of the British Racing Authority (BHA).
A total of 19 horses were declared on Thursday for the premier European Classic, among them the Godolphin trio of Best Solution, Benbatl and Dubai Thunder, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed’s Permian.
At the bottom of the list, however, the rank outsider Diore Lia snuck in despite the best efforts of the regulatory body.
Diore Lia, who has raced twice without a semblance of a success, has long been entered for the British showpiece and was an intended ride for Australian Michelle Payne. Once it became clear the Melbourne Cup-winning rider had commitments elsewhere, the owners turned to inexperienced claimer Gina Mangan, who had won only once in Ireland from 69 rides and had never ridden over the idiosyncratic course.
Despite the BHA saying in midweek that it was fine for Mangan to take the ride, on Wednesday night they performed a U-turn and blocked her participation, citing safety reasons.
Trainer John Jenkins vowed he would not run the filly, who is the first to take on the colts since Godolphin’s Cape Verdi finished 11th in 1998, but claimer Paddy Pilley has been recruited to ride.
“She’s definitely running and Paddy will be riding her,” owner-breeder Richard Aylward said. “Our filly is the people’s champion now and I hope everyone gets behind her.”
Aidan O’Brien added salt to the wounds when his daughter’s name, Ana, appeared alongside The Anvil, one of six runners from Ballydoyle. Ana O’Brien is also a claimer, who has ridden in Britain just three times, but can boast 712 rides for 58 winners.
O’Brien will also saddle Cliffs Of Moher, the favourite and chosen mount of Ryan Moore, as the trainer seeks his fifth victory.
The 238th running of the Derby represents a significant moment in the career of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed as an owner. The Crown Prince of Dubai has had only one runner previously, with Fight Your Corner running in his old green and red colours to finish fifth in the 2002 race.
Since then he has purchased his distinctive silver silks for use in Europe, which Permian and William Buick will sport on Saturday.
It represents his best chance of winning a British Classic, and many in Britain will be hoping that a good run will further his passion for flat racing to the level of his father, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, and uncle Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, the minister of Finance.
Permian won the Dante Stakes at York last month, a race that has produced 11 winners since the Second World War. His victory owed a lot to the absence of Cracksman, who beat him in the Derby Trial at Epsom a month ago, and who will renew rivalry under Frankie Dettori.
Godolphin CEO John Ferguson has suggested that Permian’s two week break since his Dante triumph has been like a holiday, so busy has his schedule been with 10 career starts so far. Trainer Mark Johnston envisages no issues with the short turnaround.
“We’re a huge believer of doing our galloping on the racecourse,” the trainer said. “Two and a half weeks is just perfect.”
When asked whether he felt that Permian could turn around form with Cracksman, Johnston added: “I freely admit that we got the run of the race a bit at Epsom. We actually held him (Cracksman) in when Permian made his run and Cracksman did well to get out from that and rally again. He’s a lighter raced, less exposed horse and you’d expect him to come on for that.
“But I think everybody can see clearly that Permian has come on from Epsom as well. We thought the Newmarket run was a step up on that and the Dante was another step up so I don’t think everybody should assume at the next meeting Cracksman will beat Permian again and on that basis, we deserve to be there and we deserve to feel we have a live chance.”
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