Quality field chasing Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby glory with three high class supplementary entries

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, rated as the leading three-year-old race in the world last year, is set for another stellar line up this Saturday with 14 entries received for the €1,500,000 race this morning.

Dee Ex Bee (Mark Johnston), Old Persian (Charlie Appleby) and Platinum Warrior (Michael Halford) were all added to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the final supplementary stage today with English 2,000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior spearheading Aidan O’Brien’s quest for an incredible 13th victory in the race.

Dee Ex Bee, runner-up in the Epsom Derby earlier this month, completed his final major preparations under the watchful eye of trainer Mark Johnston this morning, and speaking at the launch of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby this morning Johnston gave an upbeat bulletin on his stable star.

Old Persian has been added to the Derby field by Charlie Appleby

“He’s absolutely fine, no issues at all and we are looking forward to running at the Curragh on Saturday,” Johnston said. “Epsom certainly wasn’t a surprise but I think realistically before the race if somebody had said to me we would finish in the first three I’d have probably settled for that. Coming into the final furlong I thought he might be fourth and I was hoping he would hang on and get into the first three. Then I thought for a moment he was going to get back up and win the race so we were delighted with second place.

“We are all hopeful the Curragh will suit him better than Epsom and we will see the best of him on Saturday. He is a horse that has won at Epsom but physically he is a big horse and I’m sure he will enjoy the Curragh a lot more.

“There was a cut in the ground at Epsom, although it was beautiful ground really, but we know he does handle a cut in the ground but I’m pretty confident he’ll handle fast ground as well.”

CONFIDENT

Johnston is fully expecting a strong challenge from champion trainer Aidan O’Brien but is confident that Dee Ex Bee will relish the test that the Curragh offers. “I’ve got the utmost respect, as everybody has, for Aidan O’Brien and his team and he wouldn’t be running Saxon Warrior if he didn’t think he could reverse the form but we are the one that is guaranteed to stay so we are going there more than hopeful that he (Saxon Warrior) can’t reverse the form.”

Frankie Dettori will bid to win the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby for just a second time when expected to ride Knight To Behold for trainer Harry Dunlop. The son of Sea The Stars was successful in the Lingfield Derby Trial before finishing down the field at Epsom but Dunlop is hoping to use a change of tactics on Saturday as he aims to emulate his father, John, who won the race twice with Shirley Heights (1978) and Salsabil (1990).

“Things at Epsom didn’t really go his way but he is in very good form and we are much looking forward to Saturday,” Harry Dunlop said on Tuesday morning. “Richard Kingscote got off him last time and said that Epsom didn’t really suit. I feel that a mile and a half at the Curragh, a galloping track, will be much more his scene. He won at Newmarket when it was very fast ground there and he didn’t seem to mind it, it is going to be quick ground but I’m sure there will be a good covering of grass and he should be okay."

"We might just ride him a little bit differently than last time and you just have to be aware of what goes on. We have to take on the maestro (Aidan O’Brien) and wherever you go he’ll be there. We feel on the back of his win at Lingfield he deserves to be there, obviously he does have to improve, but with the amount of prize money on offer it is a race we ought to be targeting and the plan is that Frankie Dettori will ride him.”

Dettori’s only previous success in the race came on Balanchine back in 1994 who carried the famous royal blue colours of Godolphin and this years Epsom Derby winning connections are set to be represented by Royal Ascot winner Old Persian who Charlie Appleby added to the field and expects William Buick to ride.

Aidan O’Brien has left in Delano Roosevelt, Royal Ascot winner Kew Gardens, Nelson, Rostropovich and The Pentagon as well as Saxon Warrior, while Joseph O’Brien will seek a first Irish Derby success as a trainer when saddling Latrobe, who will be ridden by his brother, Donnacha.

The potential field is completed by the Dermot Weld-trained Bandua, the Fozzy Stack-trained Carla Biraghi and the Jim Bolger-trained Theobald.

A total of 12 juveniles remain in contention in Saturday’s Group 2 GAIN Railway Stakes including the highly rated Sergei Prokofiev and British-trained entries Certain Lad and Marie’s Diamond.

PRETTY POLLY

The Group 1 Juddmonte Pretty Polly Stakes is the highlight on day three of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby weekend on Sunday with Epsom Oaks winner Forever Together heading the field.

Aidan O’Brien’s Forever Together could be joined in the race by stable companions Athena, Bye Bye Baby, Happily, Hydrangea, Magic Wand, Rhododendron and Sizzling. John Gosden is set to be represented by Coronet and William Haggas, who won the race with Chorist in 2004, has entered Urban Fox.

The Group 2 Comer Group International Curragh Cup is also on Sunday and has attracted leading stayers including Royal Ascot winner Pallasator and Willie McCreery’s high class filly Bloomfield. Another notable runner is Sound Check trained in Germany by Peter Schiergen recent winner of the Group 2 Comer Group International Oleander-Rennen.

Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Betting

Paddy Power: 4-7 Saxon Warrior, 7-2 Dee Ex Bee, 10 Kew Gardens, Old Persian, 16 Knight to Behold, 20 Delano Roosesevelt, Latrobe, Platinum Warrior, The Pentagon, 25 Bandua, Nelson, Rostropovich, 50 Carla Biraghi, 100 Theobald

Notes to the Editor:

Going Report

Issued today Tuesday 26th June 8am ahead of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival this weekend. Straight course - good to firm. Round course - good to firm, firm in places. Watering continues. Forecast dry for the coming days.

Transport

Just off exit 12 of the M7, getting to the Curragh couldn't be easier. There is a dedicated Dublin Coach Service from Burgh Quay (see dublincoach.ie) and shuttle buses from Kildare Village and Kildare Train Station. If you are driving there is plenty of free parking available

Admission Prices

Derby Friday featuring Summer Sounds at the Curragh 29th June

Adult €20

Senior/Under 25 €12

Children under 18 (accompanied by adult) FRE

Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day, Saturday 30th June

Adult €35

Senior/Under 25 €25

Children under 18 (accompanied by adult) Free

Juddmonte Pretty Polly Stakes Day, Sunday 1st July

Adult €20

Senior/Under 25 €12

Children under 18 (accompanied by adult) FREE

Race Schedule

Friday 1st race 5.25pm gates open 3.30pm

Sat 1st race 1.40pm gates open 11.00am

Sun 1st race 1.45pm gates open 11.30am

Live Music

There will be plenty of entertainment off the track throughout the weekend, Friday features Summer Sounds At the Curragh with DJ Blathnaid Treacy and Saturday plays host to a live concert after racing with State Lights. Irish vocalist Gemma Sugrue will also sing the Irish National Anthem and the Curragh of Kildare.

Dubai Duty Free Best Dressed Lady Competition

Saturday features the Dubai Duty Free Best Dressed Lady competition in association with The K Club with judges including the legendary lady jockey Nina Carberry, Bairbre Power, Fashion Editor of Independent News and Media and Breeda McLoughlin, wife of Colm McLoughlin, CEO and Executive Vice Chairman of Dubai Duty Free.

Courtesy of Dubai Duty Free, the Best Dressed Lady at The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby will win a luxury trip to Dubai for two including flights and accommodation. The winner and a guest will stay in the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel for five glorious nights. Jumeirah Creekside Hotel is a luxurious five-star hotel, offering an authentic cultural experience in the heart of the city of Dubai. The prize also includes a €1,000 Dubai Duty Free spending spree where the winner can shop for the latest designer handbags, perfumes, jewellery or cosmetics. The airport retail operation is one of the largest in the world and is a haven for shoppers seeking a wide array of goods. The night before the trip to Dubai the winner and a guest will enjoy an overnight stay at The K Club and a second night at the luxury Kildare Hotel, Golf & Spa Resort on their return.