The Vodafone Epsom Derby took yet another twist yesterday when Aidan O'Brien announced that Second Empire and King Of Kings will run in Saturday's classic.
Both colts were ridden by Michael Kinane in pieces of work yesterday morning and Kinane has elected to ride Second Empire, leaving the priceless spare ride on King Of Kings to Pat Eddery.
However, having eventually picked his team after a protracted selection process, O'Brien now has a new problem with the weather. Heavy rain is forecast for the south of England, and the Epsom clerk of the course has said: "I can't see the ground being any quicker than good if the forecast is correct."
Cooper may be erring on the side of optimism, though, and O'Brien commented yesterday: "I'm worried about the ground big time. Both are good actioned, good ground horses and neither would be suited by soft going. I know Second Empire won on the soft in France last year (the Grand Criterium) but I remember Michael coming in and telling us that he hated the ground. Second Empire had been very impressive on fast going before that."
Nevertheless, Second Empire and King Of Kings are now confirmed runners, which seemed unlikely over the weekend. Then, the 2,000 Guineas winner King Of Kings was the subject of racecourse rumour that he had worked badly last Friday, but O'Brien said yesterday: "King Of Kings is very well and those rumours don't concern me."
O'Brien added that he is hopeful Second Empire and King Of Kings will act around Epsom's unique gradients - "they are very well balanced horses" - and confirmed the non-appearance of Saratoga Springs, fourth in Sunday's French Derby. "It's getting too soft for him," he said.
Bookmakers swiftly responded to the Ballydoyle move by changing their ante-post market on the Derby. Second Empire is now 9 to 4 favourite, all in, with William Hill, who make King Of Kings only their 8 to 1 fourth favourite. Greek Dance is now 7 to 2 and the filly Cape Verdi is 4 to 1. Paddy Power also go 9 to 4 Second Empire but have King Of Kings at 13 to 2.
In Britain, punters were latching on to outsider Courteous, who has shortened from 20 to 1 to 16 to 1.
O'Brien will also be represented in Friday's Epsom Oaks by Shahtoush, who also worked yesterday morning. "She went nicely and she will take her chance. Michael Kinane will ride," added the trainer, who may also run Best Before Dawn in a five furlong sprint handicap at Epsom on Saturday. If O'Brien is concerned about rain, John Oxx was happy to hear about it and confirmed that Ebadiyla will take her chance in Friday's Group One Coronation Cup.
"She worked well this morning and with the weather forecast she is likely to run. John Murtagh will ride," Oxx said of the Irish Oaks winner who disappointed in last month's reappearance in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
"She's lazier and harder to get fit this year, and while I thought she would get closer at the Curragh, she blew for a long time afterwards. She's been in very good form since. She handled Epsom quite well last year when she was a bit inexperienced and if we get a good gallop she should run a good race," Oxx added.
French champion jockey Olivier Peslier will make a flying visit to the Curragh on Friday evening to ride English raider Fruits Of Love in the Gallinule Stakes.
Fruits Of Love's trainer Mark Johnston said: "If the horse wins, he'll go straight for the Irish Derby. If he runs well but does not win, it will either be the Irish Derby or the King Edward at Royal Ascot."
John Egan has decided not to appeal against the nine-day whip ban he picked up at Musselburgh on Saturday night for his riding of Northern Motto in the two-mile handicap.
His agent Simon Dodds said: "John is not going to appeal. He thinks it will be a waste of time. "He's going to take a holiday and come back fit and ready to ride some more winners."
