For the first time since 1993, the Epsom Downs could see a US-trained runner in their coveted classic.
The Bob Baffert trained Greenwich Village was among 88 entries revealed on Tuesday. The last US competitor was Wolf Prince in 1993, who could only manage eighth under Frankie Dettori.
Speaking to The Jockey Club, owner Tom Ryan said “we are incredibly grateful to the jockey club for extending an invitation to the Betfred Derby for Greenwich Village.
“It was a wonderful and unexpected surprise for all of us, and something we don’t take lightly. We’ll be giving it serious thought as we map out his path from the winter to the spring.”
This comes of the back of a nose success in the Pasadena Stakes at Santa Anita on Sunday.
He would be a fascinating contender out of Houtzen, who was second to Battaash in the King George Qatar Stakes in 2019. By Quality Road, it would be intriguing to see how he copes with the Epsom Test.
Interestingly, Port Road recorded his highest turf RPR at Epsom when fifth here last season.
Tom Ryan noted how: “He’s a big, powerful colt. He’s bred to keep moving forward as distances increase. The Derby distance is unknown.
“When we originally purchased him, we had the Kentucky Derby in mind. It would be quite a pivot if he ended up in Epsom Downs.”
Japanese and French hopefuls make up international entries
Of the other international raiders, both Akkan and Choreo Sequence form the Japanese consortium.
Via Sporting Life, the latter’s trainer remarked: “The Derby, with its near 250-year history, is a truly magnificent race.
“It is a great honour to be ablate include the Derby as an option for such a well-bred and promising horse.”
His pedigree includes Sadler’s Wells and Monsun, and his dam-line rather remarkably includes the 2011 Golden Miller winner Noble Prince. Japan have never trained a runner in the Derby, though their leading sire was responsible for Auguste Rodin in 2023.
O’Brien domination
Aidan O’Brien is responsible for 24 of the 88 entries, a resounding 27% of the field.
That includes market leader Pierre Bonnard, who last won the Criterium at Saint-Cloud, often thought of a good Derby pointer.
Futurity winner Hawk Mountain is also entered, bidding to emulate Auguste Rodin in completing the Doncaster/Epsom double.
While it’s massive on an international scale to have the international challengers entered, they’ll have to be something extraordinary to prevent Aidan O’Brien from his remarkable twelfth success in the Epsom classic.