The Irish Derby was void as a contest when Roger Varian pulled out Epsom runner-up Kingston Hill and the colt could be re-routed to the Coral Eclipse on Saturday. Commentators did their best to convince us that Australia was the best thing since sliced bread but he beat a couple of stable hacks in a virtual exercise gallop. I know that the horse could only beat what was lined up against him but it is ridiculous to keep hyping him up.
The Derby form proved disastrous last year and hopefully this year’s will prove stronger. At the time of writing, the sun is blazing down and there must be a real possibility of fast ground again at Sandown. Sir Michael Stoute has already suggested that Hillstar may miss the race for that very reason and I would not be surprised to see Kingston Hill do likewise.
One horse that won’t mind it fast is John Gosden’s admirable mare The Fugue. She will be racing over her best trip on ground that she loves (barring a change in the weather) and she was at her best when bolting up at Royal Ascot in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.
The form of that race is open to question with Treve disappointing but The Fugue reversed Breeders’ Cup form with Magician and could be called the winner with two furlongs to travel. She is on offer at around 15-8 but could be closer to evens if more rivals drop by the wayside during the week. Last season she won the Yorkshire Oaks and the Irish Champion Stakes and can add another Group 1 to John Gosden’s collection.
It is always interesting to see how the three-year-old’s get on in this race and War Command is a possible runner for Aidan O’Brien. He ran on steadily without ever looking dangerous in the St James’s Palace Stakes and has a bit of ground to make up on runner-up Night Of Thunder. The extra two furlongs should favour him more than the Hannon horse but he does seem to have lost the sparkle of his Coventry Stakes win.
O’Brien also saddles American import Verrazano who was second to Toronado in the Queen Anne. He ought to get the trip having won over nine furlongs in the States but I didn’t think it was a particularly strong race at Ascot and I’m not sure he has a real turn of foot.
The Fugue at 9-4 BetVictor, Coral
