Main contenders go forward for Vodafone Derby

Following yesterday´s second forfeit stage, 25 horses go forward for the 2004 £1.25 million Vodafone Derby, run at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 5.

The current ante-post favourite for the premier classic, Yeats, heads four entries for trainer Aidan O´Brien along with Curragh maiden winner Book Of Kings, the highly-regarded Meath and Dante Stakes sixth Moscow Ballet.

Godolphin´s colours have not yet been carried to victory in the Vodafone Derby and the Maktoum family´s operation has a leading contender in the UltimateBet.com 2,000 Guineas second Snow Ridge as well as Doncaster conditions race victor Duke Of Venice and Dante runner-up Rule Of Law. Simon Crisford, Godolphin´s racing manager, said this afternoon: 'We have left three horses in the Vodafone Derby today and it looks like we will have more than one runner.'

Frankie Dettori is confident he will be fit to ride and he will partner Snow Ridge, all being well, while Kerrin McEvoy will be on our second string. Rule Of Law ran well at York last week while Duke Of Venice runs at the weekend.

'We hope to give Kerrin McEvoy experience of Epsom on Wednesday at the Breakfast With The Stars event at the course - we won´t be working any of our Derby or Oaks contenders then but hopefully Epsom will allow Kerrin to have a spin on another horse.'

The 2,000 Guineas form is further represented by Newmarket third Azamour, trained for the Aga Khan by John Oxx, and the fourth-placed Grey Swallow from Dermot Weld´s Curragh stable. Weld is also represented by the progressive Cairdeas, a half-brother to Desert King who won a Navan maiden earlier this month and now carries the colours of Ireland´s president, Mary McAleese.

Sir Michael Stoute, successful 12 months ago with Kris Kin, is represented by the Dante Stakes victor North Light and Almuraad, winner of a Leicester maiden last year. David Elsworth also has two entries in Michael Tabor´s 2000 Guineas sixth Salford City and the maiden Massif Centrale.

The famous green, blue and white colours of the late Robert Sangster, successful on The Minstrel in 1977 and Golden Fleece in 1982, look set to be carried by Percussionist, an impressive winner of Lingfield´s Group 3 Derby Trial earlier this month.

France´s hopes rest with American Post, whose latest success came in the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp on Sunday, and the Jean de Roualle-trained Return In Style.

Ecomium was an impressive maiden winner for trainer Jeremy Noseda on his only start at Newmarket´s Craven meeting while the entries are completed by Marcus Tregoning´s Elshadi, a dual winner last year, Coming Again, a maiden for Barry Hills, Let The Lion Roar, a fast-finishing third in the Dante Stakes, Pukka, facile winner of a Newbury handicap on Saturday for owner-trainer-breeder Luca Cumani.

Master William, trained by Michael Dickinson in the USA, the Eddie Lynam-trained Moncrieff and the Mick Channon-trained maiden Shaaban are all unlikely starters.

Stephen Wallis, Managing Director at Epsom Downs Racecourse, commented: 'The Vodafone Derby is easily Europe´s richest race and we are delighted to have attracted the top middle-distance three-year-old colts for a fantastic renewal this year.'

There is a £75,000 supplementary entry stage for the Vodafone Derby on May 31.

THE 2004 VODAFONE DERBY

Class A, Group One, Showcase Race, Epsom Downs, Total Prize Fund £1,250,000 4.20pm, Saturday, June 5, 2004, one mile, four furlongs and about ten yards. Weights: colts 9st; fillies 8st 9lb, closed December 4, 2002 (588 entries), first forfeit stage March 2, 2004 (140 entries remained), £8,000 second entry stage April 7, 2004, second forfeit stage May 19, 2004 (25 remain), £75,000 supplementary entry stage May 31, 2004, five-day confirmation stage noon, May 31, 2004, final declaration stage 10am June 3, 2004. (Form figures are correct up to and including the racing of Tuesday, May 18, 2004. May not include some overseas form).