Fascinating Vodafone Derby in Prospect Recent totesport.com Dante Stakes victor Tartan Bearer is one of 21 remaining entries for the 2008 Vodafone Derby. The #1,250,000 contest takes place over 12 furlongs at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 7. Tartan Bearer will be bidding to emulate North Light who followed up his Group Two York success for owner Ballymacoll Stud and trainer Sir Michael Stoute when landing the 2004 Vodafone Derby. If successful, Tartan Bearer (a full-brother to the 2001 Vodafone Derby runner-up Golan) would give Newmarket-based Stoute his fifth Vodafone Derby success following on from Shergar (1981), Shahrastani (1986), Kris Kin (2003) and the aforementioned North Light. Stoute has also left in Tajaaweed, successful in the Group Three Dee Stakes at Chester last time out. Curtain Call could attempt to give Newmarket handler Luca Cumani his third Vodafone Derby triumph following Kahyasi (1988) and High-Rise (1998). The Sadler?s Wells colt won comfortably on his reappearance at Nottingham last month but side-stepped his next intended engagement in the Lingfield Derby Trial due to unsuitable ground. There are eight Irish-trained contenders remaining. Champion trainer Aidan O?Brien, who saddled Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002) to victory at Epsom Downs, has seven entries going forward including Henrythenavigator, hero of the stanjamesuk.com 2000 Guineas, Lingfield Derby Trial victor Alessandro Volta and Dante Stakes runner-up Frozen Fire. The O?Brien septet also includes Achill Island, Bashkirov, King Of Rome and Washington Irving. Last season, the master of Ballydoyle ran no less than eight horses in the Vodafone Derby. New Approach is the other remaining Irish-trained entry. The Galileo colt finished runner-up to Henrythenavigator on his seasonal reappearance in the stanjamesuk.com 2000 Guineas and the pair are due to re-oppose in tomorrow?s Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh. However, trainer Jim Bolger today revealed that New Approach was left in the Vodafone Derby in error and will not be lining up on June 7. Empery in 1976 was the last French-trained Derby winner and the best hope of a first French victory in 32 years would appear to rest with Ripple, owned by the Aga Khan and trained by Jean-Claude Rouget. The son of Rock Of Gibraltar finished runner-up in the Group Two Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud on May 12. The Aga Khan could also be represented by the Alain de Royer Dupre-trained Montmartre, a winner at Longchamp last month. The third French-trained entry is the rank outsider Maidstone Mixture from the Richard Chotard yard. Henry Cecil has sent out no less than four Derby heroes in Slip Anchor (1985), Reference Point (1987), Commander In Chief (1993) and Oath (1999) and the master of Warren Place has one entry going in Kandahar Run, successful in the Listed Newmarket Stakes last month. The four other remaining entries are the Mark Tompkins-trained Alan Devonshire, Bouguereau, who represents dual Vodafone Derby winning trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam, Bronze Cannon from the John Gosden yard and Feared In Flight, trained by Barry Hills. There is one final chance for horses to be added to the Vodafone Derby at the five-day confirmation stage on Monday, June 2, when there is also a #75,000 supplementary entry stage. Connections have indicated that Doctor Fremantle, successful in the Group Three Chester Vase on May 8, will be a supplementary entry while impressive Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial victor Casual Conquest would also have to be supplemented if he were to line up at Epsom Downs on June 7.
