A CERTAIN few phrases regularly spring up in the build up to the Investec Derby. One is that old “best to the best” ideal that Australia (Galileo-Ouija Board) is a testimony to.

And Federico Tesio’s definition of the thoroughbred’s existence defined by the winning post at Epsom is another.

Both quotes are applicable to the standards that underpining Coolmore’s breeding. The Derby ranks highest in a three-year-old colt’s career.

That “best to the best” middle-distance blood is usually oozing out of Ballydoyle and Aidan O’Brien is typically well represented this year again – with as many as seven possibles, he said this week.

One of the fascinating parts of pre-Derby study is the “will they stay?” factor, as so many colts are stretching out over the Derby distance for the first time.

It’s never certain. Sadler’s Wells got horses who stayed better than he did and Galileo mixed with speedier mares is now the trademark of Coolmore breeding.

Last year we saw two top-class colts in Saxon Warrior and Roaring Lion fail through lack of stamina. They were better horses than Dee Ex Bee, but his superior stamina carried him home ahead of them in second over a mile and a half.

We often look at the sire, and ask questions – ‘how far will Kingman’s stay?’ But the bottom line of the pedigree is just as important. A quick glance through the Derby-winning colts of the last two decades, taking the average winning distance of the dam sire (from Racing Post stats) showed very little sprinting blood in Derby winning pedigrees.

Every colt was out of a mare by a sire who averaged more than a mile for his winning progeny. New Approach was the closest risk but then the Galileo class kicked in, overriding the Ahonoora speed from Park Express (who did stay 10 furlongs). Harzand was next but Sea The Stars balanced out any speed from Xaar.

Uncharacteristically this year, three of the top Ballydoyle crop have sprinting damsires, all averaging less than a mile.

Broome has already defied some stats by winning over 10 furlongs at Leopardstown and Anthony Van Dyck pushed the bar further, against weak opposition, over almost a mile and a half Lingfield. He is a half-brother to a Group 1 sprinter in Australia called Bounding. His would be an interesting Derby-winning pedigree. Over to you, Galileo!

Broome could help also establish Australia as a potential successor to Galileo.

There are no concrete facts here, Oasis Dream sired Midday as well as Muhaarar, but it’s an interesting study given the dominance of Ballydoyle runners in the Derby betting.

YEAR WINNER DAM SIRE(AVERAGE WIN DISTANCE)

2000 Sinndar (Lashkari 13.1f)

2001 Galileo (Miswaki 8.3 f)

2002 High Chaparral (Darshaan 11.7f)

2003 Kris Kin (Rainbow Quest 11.3f)

2004 North Light (Rainbow Quest 11.3f)

2005 Motivator (Gone West 8.2f)

2006 Sir Percy (Blakeney 12.1f|)

2007 Authorized (Saumarez 13.3f)

2008 New Approach (Ahonoora 8f|)

2009 Sea The Stars (Miswaki 8.3f)

2010 Workforce (Sadler’s Wells 11.4f)

2011 Pour Moi (Darshaan 11.7f)

2012 Camelot (Kingmambo 9.9f)

2013 Ruler Of The World (Kingmambo 9.9f)

2014 Australia (Cape Cross 9.3f)

2015 Golden Horn (Dubai Destination 9.5f))

2016 Harzand (Xaar 8.1f)

2017 Wings Of Eagles (Kendor 12f)

2018 Masar (Cape Cross 9.3f)