Vodafone Derby Contenders Boosted By 12

The premier colts´ Classic, the Vodafone Derby, has attracted 12 colts at the second-entry stage, it is announced today, Tuesday, April 11, 2006.

Both of the world´s two most powerful bloodstock empires, Coolmore and Godolphin, have added colts to the Vodafone Derby which is run over 12 furlongs at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 3.

There are six more from champion Irish trainer Aidan O´Brien, representing various Coolmore partnerships, in Benjamin Franklin, Frost Giant, George Washington, Pescatorio, Poseidon Adventure and Road To Mandalay.

George Washington is the hot favourite for the first colts´ Classic, the Stan James 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 6, while the promising pair of Frost Giant and Poseidon Adventure plus three unraced colts - Benjamin Franklin, Pescatorio and Road To Mandalay - are the others up for Vodafone Derby glory.

They join 19 other O´Brien-trained horses, including ante-post favourite Horatio Nelson, already in the Vodafone Derby which is the richest race in Europe, being worth #1.25 million.

Godolphin has put in two colts - Palace Episode and Winged Cupid - at the second-entry stage, increasing its overall Vodafone Derby strength to 26.

Both were purchased privately by the Maktoum family´s entity after excellent two-year-old campaigns - Palace Episode won the Group One Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in October from Winged Cupid.

Andre Fabre, champion French trainer again in 2005, has added two colts - the Sean Mulryan-owned Linda´s Lad and the Aga Khan´s Visindar - to the Classic.

Linda´s Lad is a Group One winner, having captured the 10-furlong Criterium de Saint-Cloud on November 12, while Visindar showed great promise when winning his only race, also at Saint-Cloud on the same day, and has proved popular with bettors in recent days.

The two other second-entry stage additions are the Alan Jarvis-trained Awatuki and Championship Point from Mick Channon´s stable. The former was the easy winner of a Kempton maiden on his seasonal debut last month, while the latter won two of his three starts in 2005 including the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot at York.

There is one further entry stage for the Vodafone Derby, following on from the yearling and second-entry ones, on May 29. This is the supplementary entry stage which costs #75,000.

Stephen Wallis, Managing Director of Epsom Downs Racecourse, commented: 'The 12 additions to the Vodafone Derby mean that we have 144 three-year-olds still on target for the premier Classic. This tremendous figure demonstrates the appetite for Classic glory and the build-up to the 2006 Vodafone Derby will be fascinating.'

There will be an opportunity for all trainers with intended runners in the Vodafone Derby, Vodafone Oaks and Vodafone Coronation Cup to bring their horses for a practice gallop on the course on Thursday, May 25. Last year, Motivator and Walk In The Park had spins around the track in the build-up and they finished first and second in the 2005 Vodafone Derby.