Derby contenders: Casual Conquest | Curtain Call | Doctor Fremantle | Frozen Fire | Henrythenavigator | Kandahar Run | King Of Rome | New Approach | Tajaaweed | Tartan Bearer

CURTAIN CALL (FR) 3-y-o (31 Jan 2005) b c

Sadler's Wells (USA) - Apsara (FR) (Darshaan)

Trainer: L M Cumani Owner: Mrs P K Cooper and Partners Bred: Famille Niarchos.

By Graham Richards. Graham's guide to the Flat for 2008 is out now - order your copy for only £10 today.

Curtain Call is a son of the legendary Sadler’s Wells, sire of countless Group One winners including Epsom Derby winners Galileo and High Chaparral. Curtain Call’s dam was placed four times in France. These came over distances between nine and sixteen furlongs on both good and soft ground.

Curtain Call’s breeding indicates stamina will not be an issue in the Derby. In fact, he has such a stamina-based pedigree one wonders if he will have enough speed to hold his position in a mile and a half Group One race run at Epsom, on anything other than ground with the word soft in the description.

Having run six times he has disappointed just once. That came on good ground in the Racing Post Trophy. Arguably, his best run came last season at the Curragh. On soft ground, he finished strongly over seven-furlongs when runner-up to New Approach. His only appearance this season came at Nottingham in April. Facing just two rivals, he came through at the two-furlong pole surging several lengths clear to win comfortably by six-lengths. Curtain Call was niggled along in the early stages as a fast pace was set. His style of galloping suggests he will always appreciate some ease in the ground. Although he won impressively, he was kept up to his work and overall he looked to me short of the pace needed at the highest level. The second and third have both been beaten in their subsequent runs in handicaps and Listed races. Furthermore, taking a line through the second he comes out much the same horse as Unnefer. Henry Cecil’s colt was just touched off by Tajaweed at Chester in the Group Three Dee Stakes at Chester. It seems fair to suggest, on an equal playing field, there will not be a lot of daylight between Curtain Call and Sir Michael Stoute’s charge when they meet.

Summing up, unless the heavens open over the Epsom Downs and his undoubted stamina comes into play, the St Leger may end up being Curtain Call’s best shot at Group One glory this season.