O'Brien and Godolphin dominate Derby entries

Aidan O`Brien and Godolphin dominate the Vodafone Derby entries with 24 and 17 three-year-olds respectively still left in the premier Classic, for which a total of 135 horses remained engaged after the first forfeit stage.

The 135 were all originally entered for the Stg#1.2million contest as yearlings in December 2000.

There is a second opportunity to make entries for the June 8th race, at a cost of #9,000, on April 10th and a final supplementary entry stage on June 1st, for an outlay of #90,000.

The Coolmore team of owners Michael Tabor and Sue Magnier and trainer O`Brien took last year`s race with Gallileo and their entries include his brother Black Sam Bellamy.

Among other O`Brien entries are the brilliant Johannesburg, last season`s champion juvenile in Europe and America, who is favourite with many bookmakers for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4th.

No horse has ever won both the Derby and Kentucky Derby.

O`Brien has also entered Group One winners Hawk Wing, the current ante-post favourite, Ballingarry, High Chapparral and Rock Of Gibraltar, owned by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

There is a total of 38 Irish-trained entries, included five representing John Oxx, who was successful with Sinndar in 2000, and five trained in France.

Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor won the Derby in 1995 with Lammtarra.

Many of his entries this time are unraced or lightly-raced but those to have already shone on the racecourse include Dubai Destination, winner of last season`s Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, and Essence Of Dubai, winner of the Group Three UAE 2000 Guineas last month.

Dubai Excellence, a half-brother to the brilliant Dubai Millennium, won a Chepstow maiden on his only start in September, while Godolphin is also represented by two Japanese-bred colts - Chantilly maiden winner Flag Day, by the record-breaking sire Sunday Silence, and Penumbra, an unraced son of Lammtarra.