US Army Ranger looks set to lead Aidan O'Brien's assault on a potential sixth Investec Epsom Derby success on Saturday week, a tally that would equal the "blue-riband" haul of his legendary Ballydoyle predecessor, Vincent O'Brien.
Although arrangements for O'Brien's team have yet to be finalised, the trainer conceded in an interview at yesterday's "Breakfast With the Stars" promotion at Epsom that there's a "good chance" Ryan Moore will team up with US Army Ranger in the Derby.
The unbeaten Chester Vase winner currently disputes Derby favouritism at 4-1 with Wings Of Desire, who pleased his jockey, Frankie Dettori, with a spin around Epsom's unique contours, similar to the one Golden Horn did before scoring in racing's most coveted classic last year.
Like Golden Horn, Wings Of Desire will have to be supplemented into the Derby, but O’Brien has eight entries remaining in the race and that strength in depth means Ireland’s champion trainer is just 11-8 with the Racebets firm to emulate “MV” O’Brien’s Derby record.
Vincent O’Brien won his six in a 20-year period between Larkspur in 1962 to Golden Fleece in 1982, taking in four legendary winners in between: Sir Ivor (1968), Nijinsky (1970,) Roberto (1972) and The Minstrel in 1977.
Galileo and High Chaparral scored back-to-back wins in 2001-02 for Aidan O’Brien before he completed an unprecedented hat-trick with Camelot, Ruler Of The World and Australia in 2012-14.
US Army Ranger has won both his starts to date, but failed to impress when just beating his stable companion Port Douglas in the Vase. The latter is also in contention to run in the Derby, as is the Dante runner-up Deauville and a number of others.
“Ryan Moore has information about them all, and he will make the decision. I am sure there is a good chance he will ride him [US Army Ranger], but I am not saying for definite that he will ride him,” O’Brien said.
In 2007, O’Brien ran eight colts in Authorized’s Derby, and is likely to be heavily represented again this year.
However, one Ballydoyle colt unlikely to figure in this Epsom picture is The Gurkha, who O’Brien indicated will instead take his chance in the following day’s Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly.
Dermot Weld is considering the Derby for his Ballysax winner Harzand, but Jim Bolger confirmed his Derrinstown victor, Moonlight Magic, will try to emulate his trainer's 2008 Derby hero New Approach.
“I rate him a good Derby prospect and I would not swap him for anything else in the race,” Bolger said. “He has the looks, the demeanour, the balance and temperament to go with his pedigree. He is a beautifully balanced horse, so he should handle Epsom well. There are no holes in this fellow.”
It is 25 years since the Co Carlow-based trainer landed a shock 50-1 Oaks success at Epsom with Jet Ski Lady and Bolger is hopeful of a bold show in Friday week’s fillies classic with Turret Rocks.
However, Minding continues to top the ante-post Oaks betting despite her Irish 1,000 Guineas defeat to Jet Setting, when she possibly compromised her chance by banging her head in the starting stalls.
“She will do very little, I would imagine, for the next 10 days,” O’Brien said. “If she is well, obviously we will look forward to it. Hopefully everything is going to be OK.”
O’Brien’s Earring, the daughter of the top-class Together, should relish quicker ground at Gowran on Wednesday than in her Navan debut.
