Vodafone Derby Clues At Newmarket

A host of Vodafone Derby contenders will be on show this week, with the Stan James Guineas Festival at Newmarket this weekend set to provide the stage for many of the leading candidates to strut their stuff.

Teofilo, the champion two-year-old of 2006, will make his eagerly awaited return to the track in the Stan James 2000 Guineas over a mile this Saturday, May 5, with connections hoping that he puts up a convincing performance to book his ticket to Epsom Downs for the Vodafone Derby on Saturday, June 2.

Jim Bolger´s superstar has yet to taste defeat in five outings and is the general 11/4 favourite to triumph in the premier Classic in a month´s time.

Adagio, trained by four-times Vodafone Derby-winning handler Sir Michael Stoute, was impressive when taking the Group Three Craven Stakes at Newmarket on April 19. Currently around an 8/1 chance for the Vodafone Derby, he will be looking to enhance his claims with another top effort over the Rowley Mile.

The Paul Cole-trained Strategic Prince was successful twice in Group Two company last term and ran an excellent third to Teofilo in the Group One Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on his final outing. He will be out to prove he has the attributes to be competitive at Epsom Downs over 12 furlongs on the first Saturday in June, for which he is priced around 16/1.

Aidan O´Brien enjoyed Vodafone Derby success with Galileo in 2001 and High Chaparral the following year. Mount Nelson, as low as 11/2 to give his handler a third victory in the Classic, is a son of 2002 Stan James 2000 Guineas hero Rock Of Gibraltar. He followed an easy Curragh maiden success with a battling head defeat of Spirit One in the Group One Criterium International at Saint-Cloud when last seen in October.

Stable companions Duke Of Marmalade, Eagle Mountain and Yellowstone will also be out to enhance their Vodafone Derby prospects at Newmarket this weekend.

A total of 12 horses engaged in the Stan James 2000 Guineas hold an entry in the Vodafone Derby: Adagio, Al Shemali, Big Robert, Cockney Rebel, Duke Of Marmalade, Eagle Mountain, Mofarij, Mount Nelson, Strategic Prince, Teofilo, Truly Royal and Yellowstone.

The last horse to win both contests was Nashwan in 1989. Sir Percy followed up his fine second to George Washington in last year´s 2000 Guineas with a thrilling victory in the Vodafone Derby, while Generous in 1991 ran fourth to Mystiko in the Newmarket Classic and subsequently went three places better in the Epsom showpiece.

Further clues could be on offer at Newmarket this Saturday in the 10-furlong Listed StansPoker.co.uk Newmarket Stakes, with nine of the 14 entries also engaged in the Vodafone Derby.

Godolphin´s Eastern Anthem ran only once last year but was very impressive when sauntering home in a soft ground extended mile maiden at Nottingham, defeating Sagredo by an eased-down five lengths, while stablemate Mythical Kid, who was added to the Vodafone Derby at the second entry stage, went down by a short-head to Dijeerr in the Group Three Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury in October.

Acapulco, a very promising sort from the Ballydoyle stable of Aidan O´Brien, barely came out of second gear when taking a 10-furlong contest at Navan on his debut on April 1, strolling to a nine-length success over previous winner Harper Valley. Stable companion Mahler - like Acapulco a son of 2001 Vodafone Derby victor Galileo - got off the mark at the second time of asking at Leopardstown on April 22. Big Robert, Broghill, Champery, Hearthstead Maison and Salford Mill are also on trial for Epsom.

The Mark Johnston-trained Boscobel is entered in the Stan James Handicap, run over 10 furlongs at Newmarket on Saturday, May 5. The Halling colt is unbeaten in three starts and was last seen dead-heating in an extended mile handicap on the Polytrack at Wolverhampton on February 16. He will need to win again to further his Vodafone Derby claims.

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