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John Gosden banking on Cracksman to shine brightest in Derby challenge

3 minute read

John Gosden is hoping a "diamond" will emerge from the pack in what looks the most open Investec Derby for many years.

Fresh from teaming up with Frankie Dettori for victory in the Oaks with Enable, Gosden fields five runners in the premier Classic at Epsom, including one of the joint-favourites in Cracksman, with Aidan O'Brien going one better with six representatives.

Newmarket-based Gosden is seeking his third Derby success, after Benny The Dip in 1997 and Golden Horn two years ago, and is in no doubt as to which is his most likely winner.

"Cracksman has always been regarded as our only possible Derby horse and he was supplemented in the first week in April," said Gosden.

"I think it's a terribly open race. When Golden Horn came here he was a legitimate favourite. The only thing that was going to beat him was the trip but he saw it out well.

"We like this horse a lot, but he is a different type altogether to Golden Horn, who was a very strong favourite.

Dettori, celebrating the 10th anniversary of his first Derby win through Authorized, said of Cracksman: "He is not Golden Horn yet by any means, but potentially he could be anything and on Saturday we will find out.

"We'll regroup now (after the Oaks) and roll on tomorrow."

Gosden also runs Crowned Eagle, Glencadam Glory, Pealer and Khalidi, who was supplemented after winning at Goodwood recently, and added: "The others are perfectly nice colts, who deserve the place in the field, it's a very open event. The truth is it is 5-1 the field in the betting and you need to be there.

"I was a bit worried that it was the two giants of our industry (Coolmore and Godolphin) taking each other on so a few of my owners said 'let's make a race of it' so we've got five going.

"Cracksman has pleased me a lot but he's light on experience, some of the others are nice horses who will get the trip.

"We'll probably find a champion at the end of it, but at the moment no one can quite find that diamond in the rough."


At The Races

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