Godolphin could boast three runners in the premier British Classic of the season on Saturday. The Al Quoz-based team added two colts, Rewilding and Buzzword, to the Derby field at the supplementary entry stage yesterday. Al Zir has been also been entered. Rewilding won the Listed bluesquare.com Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood in good style on May 19, while Buzzword stayed on well in the final furlong of the Group One Poule D'Essai Des Poulains, the French 2,000 Guineas, over a mile at Longchamp on May 16.
Simon Crisford, the Godolphin racing manager, told www.godolphin.com: "We have decided to enter Buzzword in the Investec Derby after he worked nicely at the weekend. "We have wanted to try him over a longer trip ever since he stayed on so well in the French 2,000 Guineas. His work was strong and this has prompted us to go for the Derby. We continue to be delighted with Rewilding and also have Al Zir in the Derby. Riding plans will be announced within the next 24 hours."
Rewilding and Buzzword are trained by Mahmood al Zarooni, while Al Zir is handled by Saeed bin Suroor. The Derby, over a mile and half, is run at Epsom Downs at 7pm on Saturday. Yesterday, Chock A Block finished eighth in the Listed Festival Stakes at Goodwood, England. The bin Suroor-trained horse broke well and settled in second place but weakened with over two furlongs to go. In the Flexi Betting Handicap Stakes at the same venue, Judiciary finished fifth under the watchful eye of al Zarooni. The three-year-old colt challenged the leader but weakened at the distance.
Today, Roayh goes in the Oadby Open Maiden Stakes at Leicester, England, over six furlongs. Trained by bin Suroor, the two-year-old makes his second start following his fifth-place finish at Nottingham over six furlongs last month. Godolphin are represented by Greek Islands and Battle of Britain in the Oadby Open Maiden Stakes at Leicester today. They are both trained by al Zarooni and both are having their second outing in a race over six furlongs and will face competition from 11 other runners.
* Agencies