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Analysis of the 2008 Vodafone Derby (Group One)

By Graham Richards

Going: Good

1 NEW APPROACH (IRE) (HRH Princess Haya Of Jordan) Jim Bolger 3-9-0 Kevin Manning [3] 5/1

Supporters of New Approach would have been delighted how he took the paddock and parade, before cantering to the start. Accompanied by an equine chum, he arrived at the post fresh and well, relaxed and ready for the task ahead. As the stalls opened, New Approach broke well displaying his normal exuberant nature. Racing freely through the first two-furlongs, he raced in midfield under Kevin Manning’s skilful guidance. Cantering throughout the first mile, if slightly too keen, New Approach started to make his move as the field had three-furlongs to run. At the two-furlong pole Manning switched New Approach to the inside hampering Rio De Plata. One straightened he quickened to join Tartan Bearer and from that point on always had too much in hand for the runner-up. New Approach clearly has his quirks; however, he is a huge talent. Winning the Derby after contesting two Group One races this season, is a tremendous testament to the horse’s constitution. He gives the impression he has more to offer over this distance and the right-handed Curragh track will suit him down to the ground when the Irish Derby comes along.

2 TARTAN BEARER (IRE) (Ballymacoll Stud) Sir Michael Stoute 3-9-0 Ryan Moore [14] 6/1

Started the season winning a maiden at Leicester and followed up in the Dante Stakes at York. Held up in the early stages he made his move half a mile from home. Hitting top gear, he showed a fine turn of foot to pass the horses in front of him. Just as he looked set to take the race, New Approach loomed up on his inside and had too much speed for him in the closing stages. His breeding suggests he will come on again for this and it can only be a matter of time before he wins a Group One. He has an excellent temperament and a fine turn of foot; like his full-bother Golan, he should make up into a top class four-year-old.

3 CASUAL CONQUEST (IRE) (Moyglare Stud Farm) Dermot Weld IRE 3-9-0 Pat Smullen [10] 9/2 Fav

Casual Conquest came into the race with just two runs to his name. Having raced in midfield, he had every chance turning for home, looking sure to be involved in the finish at the two-furlong pole. Staying with Tartan Bearer until the final furlong, he was unable to match strides with that horse and the eventual winner in the final furlong. It looks certain that Casual Conquest will continue to improve; whether he has the stamina for a mile and a half in Group One races, remains to be seen. At Leopardstown, he had six lengths to spare over Washington Irvine; over two-furlongs further, the gap was closed to two and a quarter lengths. The fullness of time will tell us whether the O’Brien horse improved, Casual Conquest ran below his best, or he did not stay. His dam won over a mile; despite the presence of Hernando as his sire, he may have inherited more speed than stamina.

4 DOCTOR FREMANTLE Sir Michael Stoute 3-9-0 Kerrin McEvoy [13] 11/2

Began the season in a hot handicap before taking the Chester Vase. Racing keenly in midfield, he turned into the straight full of run. Disputing the lead two furlongs from home, he briefly took the lead before the first three home swamped him for speed. Keeping on well, he deserved his fourth place and fully vindicated the decision to supplement him. He stays this distance and his breeding suggests he could be a St Leger prospect.

5 WASHINGTON IRVING (IRE) Aidan O'Brien IRE 3-9-0 Colm O'Donoghue [16] 33/1

Aidan O’ Brien’s maiden colt was always in the thick of things. Outpaced a quarter of a mile from home he kept on all the way to the line to finish just out of the frame. There is plenty of stamina in his breeding and he looks certain to be aimed at the St Leger later in the year.

6 ALESSANDRO VOLTA Aidan O'Brien IRE 3-9-0 Seamus Heffernan [1] 33/1

Last to break, Alessandro Volta had anything but a smooth run in the first four furlongs. He looked as though the cambers were finding him out and he jinked into the rails after half a mile. Murtagh did his best to keep him on an even keel as they followed Bouguereau down the hill to Tattenham Corner. Switched off the rails as Maidstone Monarch weakened, he found himself behind a wall of horses with three furlongs to run. Still unbalanced, he was unable to quicken as the principals quickened towards the finish. To his credit, he put his head down meeting the rising ground and ran on strongly to the line. He was unlucky not to finish fourth and there should be more to come on a conventional track.

7 RIO DE LA PLATA (USA) Saeed bin Suroor 3-9-0 Frankie Dettori [17] 20/1

Bounced out of the stalls from his high draw, Dettori soon had Rio De Plata travelling kindly in midfield. Like many of the other runners, he swung for home looking full of run. However, he was just starting to feel the pinch when New Approach crossed him a quarter of a mile from the finish. Dettori was not hard on him from that point and he finished an honourable seventh. He would have been slightly closer but for the incident; however, my overall feeling is he will be best over ten-furlongs.

8 TAJAAWEED (USA) Sir Michael Stoute 3-9-0 Richard Hills [5] 10/1

Smartly away, Tajaaweed travelled well towards the rear of the field for the first mile. Making his move down the straight, he looked sure to be involved in the finish. Unfortunately, his stamina gave out; despite keeping on gamely, he was always fighting a losing battle. Tajaaweed floats over the ground for such a big horse. When he returns to ten-furlongs on a flat track, he will be different proposition.

9 BOUGUEREAU Peter Chapple-Hyam 3-9-0 Alan Munro [2] 100/1

Travelled well for much of the race and held an inside rails position throughout. Still travelling well turning for home, he looked a danger until he was outpaced in the final quarter of a mile. This was a far better effort following a disappointing run in the Derby Italiano, and he should win races at a slightly lower level.

10 CURTAIN CALL (FR) Luca Cumani 3-9-0 Jamie Spencer [6] 7/1

Broke well, but became unbalanced as they crossed the road two-furlongs into the race. He was never travelling on an even keel subsequently, and it says much for his talent and tenacity that he was able to look dangerous for a few strides at the two-furlong pole. However, he was hanging and clearing hating the cambers of the track. Curtain Call appeared to handle the good ground and he is another who will improve on a conventional track.

11 FROZEN FIRE (GER) Aidan O'Brien IRE 3-9-0 Michael Kinane [15] 16/1

Missed the break and never looked happy on the cambers. He made some late headway without ever threatening to get involved. He does carry his head high in his races and his next run, on a more conventional track, should tell us whether he is a quirky fellow.

12 KING OF ROME (IRE)) A P O'Brien IRE 3-9-0 Johnny Murtagh [11] 16/1

Slowly away and held up in rear, King Of Rome made good headway round Tattenham Corner, briefly threatened to get involved. However, the game was up at the two-furlong pole, suggesting he may not have truly stayed.

13 ALAN DEVONSHIRE Mark Tompkins 3-9-0 Paul Mulrennan [12] 100/1

Took a fearsome hold when the gates opened and failed to settle. Predictably, he weakened out of the fun three-furlongs from the finish.

14 KANDAHAR RUN (Henry Cecil 3-9-0 Ted Durcan [8] 11/1

Kandahar Run looked as though he would struggle to stay a mile and a half on breeding. Having chased the leaders for much of the race, he took the lead half a mile from home. Two furlongs later, he was running on empty. Ted Durcan sensibly looked after him from that point on. The Prix Du Jockey Club at Chantilly is where he should have been.

15 BASHKIROV (Aidan O'Brien IRE 3-9-0 David McCabe [9] 125/1
Led seven furlongs from home until half a mile out. Weakened quickly and eased.

16 MAIDSTONE MIXTURE (FR) Paul Murphy 3-9-0 Michael O'Connell [7] 250/1

Led for five furlongs, before dropping right away to finish tailed off.

16 ran Distances: 0.5, 4.5, 1.5, 0.75, sh, 1, 0.5, 0.5, 1.25, 1.25, 9, 4.5, 14, 11, dist

Time: 2m 36.50s

Breeder: Lodge Park Stud
Breeding: ch c Galileo (IRE) - Park Express (Ahonoora)
Totes: Win: £5.80 Places: £2.30; £3.20; £1.50 Exacta: £42.80

2001	Galileo	Michael Kinane	Aidan O'Brien	3½	2:33.27
2003	Kris Kin	Kieren Fallon	Sir Michael Stoute	1	2:33.35
2004	North Light	Kieren Fallon	Sir Michael Stoute	1½	2:33.72
2007	Authorized	Frankie Dettori	Peter Chapple-Hyam	5	2:34.77
2006	Sir Percy	Martin Dwyer	Marcus Tregoning	shd	2:35.23
2005	Motivator	Johnny Murtagh	Michael Bell	5	2:35.69
2008	New Approach	Kevin Manning	Jim Bolger	½	2:36.50
2000	Sinndar	Johnny Murtagh	John Oxx	1	2:36.75
2002	High Chaparral	Johnny Murtagh	Aidan O'Brien	2	2:39.45

The race was run in the third slowest time since 2000. Given the slowest two times were recorded by Sinndar and High Chaparral; I feel we can forego the usual analysis into the subject.

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Subscribe now to Graham Richards' Royal Ascot Newsletters - with five daily newsletters, midday email updates, look back and analysis of each day's racing, plus an update on his Flat Guide. Order online for just £12 now.