Plenty Of Vodafone Derby Clues In Coming Weeks With the Flat season well under way, many of the 135 horses entered in this year?s #1.25 million Vodafone Derby, run at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 8, are in action over the coming weeks. All eyes will be on Newmarket in two weeks time with the stanjamesuk.com 2000 Guineas, run over the NatWest Rowley Mile on May 3. Ante-post Vodafone Derby favourite New Approach is set to make his seasonal debut in the first Classic of the season, bidding to become the first Guineas winner to go on to Vodafone Derby success since Nashwan was successful in 1989. The Godolphin pair of Ibn Khaldun and Fast Company are also expected to make their seasonal reappearances in the first Classic. The Group Two Dante Stakes, run over an extended 10 furlongs at York on May 15, has been one of the key recent trials for the Vodafone Derby with North Light (2004), Motivator (2005) and Authorized (2007) having gone on to Epsom glory after victory on the Knavesmire in recent years. McCartney is set to make his Godolphin debut in the race, having won the Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster for Mark Johnston last year. With Epsom currently undergoing a #27.6million redevelopment, the 10-furlong Blue Riband Trial Stakes is this year being staged at Nottingham on Wednesday, April 23. Luca Cumani, who won the Vodafone Derby with Kahyasi in 1988 and High-Rise in 1998, will be hoping that 2008 will be just as lucky with Curtain Call, who could make his seasonal reappearance in the race. Patrick Cooper, syndicate manager for Curtain Call?s owners, said today: "We don?t know if Curtain Call will go to Nottingham yet for the Blue Riband Trial Stakes as the ground was very bad there last week. If it?s like that, he probably won?t go but Luca will make his mind up closer to the time.
