O'Brien dominates Derby entries Aidan O'Brien has 36 of the 136 contenders going forward for the Investec Derby at Epsom on June 4. The master of Ballydoyle has won three of the last four renewals of the Classic and five in total, and has more horses left in than any other trainer. His team includes Racing Post Trophy runner-up and subsequent Group One Criterium International winner Johannes Vermeer and impressive maiden winners Cook Islands and Idaho. As well as the O'Brien horses, owners Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith also have an interesting contender in the John Gosden-trained Royal Artillery, who was successful in a maiden at Doncaster in October. Other eyecatching possibles for Gosden are Sheikh Hamdan-owned Nottingham maiden winner Wajeez and Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's Foundation, who won his first three starts last season before suffering trouble in running in the Racing Post Trophy. He disputes favouritism with Midterm, who is by 2001 Derby hero Galileo and is the first foal of six-time Group One heroine Midday, narrowly beaten in the 2009 Oaks. Owned by Khalid Abdullah, who has enjoyed success three times in the Derby, Midterm was the comfortable winner of a mile maiden at Newbury in October. Racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said: "At the moment he's just a maiden winner and people can start getting excited when he's achieved a bit more. There are no plans as yet." French trainer Andre Fabre landed the 2011 Derby with Pour Moi and is represented by the unbeaten Ultra, a Group One winner last year in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp. Ultra is owned by Godolphin, who can call on a team of 14, also featuring Champagne Stakes hero Emotionless (Charlie Appleby) and Moonlight Magic (Jim Bolger). The Aga Khan has seven remaining entries, including Zarak (Alain de Royer-Dupre), out of the unbeaten champion Zarkava, and impressive Leopardstown maiden victor Tirmizi (Dermot Weld).
