Haydock Eyecatcher Afentiko could be one for Royal Ascot
With two furlongs to run there was nothing behind him and William Buick was hard at work, seemingly going nowhere as the eventual winner Teroomm hit the front.
Paul and Oliver Cole's charge suddenly took off, though, passing all bar two close home and he would have possibly won with another half a dozen strides. A step up in trip for the Golden Gates Handicap at Royal Ascot would suit him perfectly.
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Telegraph
a day ago
- Telegraph
Live Epsom Derby 2025: Latest updates and action with Delacroix the favourite of 19 runners
Latest updates Peter Gomm. Marcus Armytage Racing Correspondent 07 June 2025 1:51pm 1:51PM More, more, Moore! "He's put away some good horses there" 🗣️ It's Ryan Moore AGAIN 👏 — ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 7, 2025 1:51PM Moore the master in Diomed 1:42PM Diomed Stakes result 1. Persica (R L Moore) 6-4 Fav 2. Ice Max (C Lee) 10-1 3. Docklands (R Kingscote) 3-1 1:40PM Superb ride Ryan Moore lands a gamble on Persica, who was backed down to 6-4 favourite and came from last to take it up inside the final furlong to beat Ice Max and Docklands 1:38PM The favourite wins Persica lands the spoils at 6-4 market leader 1:36PM They're off! Last race on the round track before the Derby and Royal Playwright leads as Persica is dropped in 1:34PM Moments from the second race Course-and-distance winner Persica, the mount of Ryan Moore, is clear favourite at 7-4, with Docklands on the drift at 5-2. 1:28PM Second race is off at 1.35pm The Betfred Diomed Stakes, runners and riders: Persica 2/1 Docklands 9/4 Royal Playwright 9/2 Ice Max 8/1 Geography 10/1 Royal Dubai 14/1 Tyrrhenian Sea 25/1 Brave Emperor 125/1 1:25PM Will leading fancy Ruling Court run in big one? William Buick is NOT happy with the ground conditions ❌ Will Ruling Court run in the #EpsomDerby? 🚨 — ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 7, 2025
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
With questions over many I have every confidence in my massive 14-1 Epsom Derby NAP
THE Aga wins the Aga Derby. That's fairytale stuff, isn't it? I'm not so sure. I'm talking, of course, about Midak, one of the French raiders supplemented into Saturday's Group 1 Betfred Derby, the world's most famous Classic beamed to you live on ITV. 2 Derby Day should always be something special for anyone who loves the thoroughbred. For many it's the ultimate test of the Flat racehorse, and it has tested the best. Winners like Nijinsky, Mill Reef, Nashwan and Sea The Stars... as well as those in defeat like Dancing Brave and El Gran Senor. The twists and turns are one thing, the stamina test over a mile and a half of the Epsom Downs another. Will he stay? That will be the question many ask about the majority of today's runners. It's certainly a doubt for 2,000 Guineas hero Ruling Court, who was hardly mentioned after being chased home by fast-finishing Field of Gold at HQ. Could it just be Ruling Court was the best horse for William Buick and Charlie Appleby? Time will tell. Delacroix really should stay for the Derby King of Trainers, Aidan O'Brien. But Ballysax and Leopardstown Derby Trial victor Delacroix is by Dubawi. In itself that is no bad thing. But the super stallion has had nine runners to date in seven different editions of the Derby and none of them has finished in the first four. Dubawi himself ran in the 2005 Derby, eventually going down eight lengths to Motivator. That was six years after his sire, Dubai Millennium, met the only defeat of his career when sent off the favourite for the Derby. Pride of Arras has only raced twice but looked very useful when romping home from Damysus in a slowly run Dante at York which saw The Lion In Winter pull his chance away in the first two furlongs. Ralph Beckett's challenger, ridden by Hector Crouch, is bred to stay and could be the real deal for owner-breeder Mrs David Aykroyd. Her colours are also carried by Amiloc, who hacked up at Goodwood the other day but can't run here as he's been gelded. Lambourn is a similar type to Los Angeles who ran well behind stable companion City of Troy last year. Another O'Brien raider, Lambourn is proven over further having landed the Chester Vase but he was beaten by Delacroix in the Ballysax. The other I want to mention, before I get on to Midak, is Stanhope Gardens, who is another for Beckett and has always appeared to be a Derby type. Last season Stanhope Gardens was only beaten a neck by Delacroix in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket. That puts him bang in the mix. The son of Ghaiyyath is bred to stay well and had effectively a racecourse gallop at Salisbury the other day when winning an event put on especially for him. But let's get back to my French fancy Midak. 2 He runs in the colours of Aga Khan Studs SCEA in a Derby run in memory of His Highness Aga Khan IV. That means he carries the green and red silks that have been worn at Epsom by legends like Shergar, Shahrastani, Kahyasi, Sinndar and Harzand. So, naturally, a Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Midak victory would be fairytale stuff under Mickaël Barzalona, who won this on Pour Moi in 2011. Midak is out of a mare by Sinndar and is already very useful. My hope is unbeaten in three races and his form suggests he's a solid, improving Group 2 horse, having scored well over an extended 1m2f at Saint-Cloud last time. He kept on well that day suggesting this trip would suit and of course he's bred for it. 'He's definitely a horse improving with his races and will definitely get the trip,' explained Nemone Routh, racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs. 'We're not sure on his form lines and how it stacks up, but all he can do is win and he's won every start. 'He's going to have to handle the track and he's a big horse with a big, long stride. Mickael Barzalona thinks he will handle the track because he's well balanced. 'We would be very happy to see him finish in the first three or even first five, but he is a bit of an unknown quantity and he does everything easily at home. It's a little bit of a shot in the dark, but we thought it was worth it.' It's the type of Derby to simply 'have a go'. And there would be no more poignant victory than one for Midak. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
William Buick backs Desert Flower to bloom in quest for Oaks glory as filly bids to make history at Epsom
William Buick is dreaming that Desert Flower will bloom in the most spectacular fashion and retain her unbeaten record in the Betfred Oaks. Desert Flower heads to Epsom on Friday as the hot favourite for the fillies' middle-distance Classic, her place at the head of the market secured by a brilliant performance in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket last month. Love (2020), Minding (2016) and Kazzia (2002) are the only horses to have done the Oaks-Guineas double this century but confidence is high and Kieren Fallon, who rides work for owners Godolphin, feels Desert Flower winning is a 'foregone conclusion'. Buick is not quite so bullish in public but the respect he holds for Desert Flower is huge and has been since he partnered her for the first time in a maiden at Newmarket last July. 'Ever since her first start, she's showed things that are just a bit out of the ordinary,' said Buick. 'Her work at home was out of the ordinary. 'You know what separates the good ones (from the rest) and she was doing things that suggested she was top-drawer.' There are plenty of dangers, however, and Aidan O'Brien throws three darts at the prize. Minnie Hauk, who warmed up for Epsom with a fine display at Chester, looks the pick from Ballydoyle.
