Global Weekly Review - 09.05.16

Godolphin enjoyed one of its most satisfying and promising weekends on the racecourse, but it was the expressed Classic ambitions of three individual Derby-winning trainers that placed the global stable on high alert.

Following informative trials at Chester, Saint-Cloud and Leopardstown, trainers John Gosden, Andre Fabre and Jim Bolger, respectively, were all keen to run their colts in the Investec Derby at Epsom on June 4.

And while that might point to this year's Classic looking wide open, it was still encouraging news at Godolphin HQ and taken as a 'positive' in the build up to the extensive summer racing programme in Europe.

Linguistic finished a close second to Viren's Army in the Listed Dee Stakes at Chester but Gosden was pleased with the run and wants to press on to Epsom.

"That would involve supplementing Linguistic, but John (Gosden) is quite keen," explained John Ferguson, chief executive and racing manager of Godolphin. "The colt ran a very nice race at Chester and he is a progressive type," he added.

The Fabre-trained Cloth Of Stars showed an impressive turn-of-foot to land the G2 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud, defeating G1 winner Robin Of Navan by two and a half lengths, and racing away from his rivals at the finish.

Fabre was very taken with the performance and he, too, has expressed a request to supplement for Epsom.

The third member of this distinguished training trio, Jim Bolger, was adamant that the beautifully-bred Moonlight Magic was ideal Epsom material after the colt's telling victory in the G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown.

"I have always had a high regard for this colt. I feel he was as good in winning this as St Jovite was in his year, and although St Jovite didn't win at Epsom, he won at the Curragh and was outstanding," the trainer added.

Moonlight Magic had been beaten previously in heavy ground, but he was impressive the way he quickened in the home straight to hold off Shogun and Idaho, two Ballydoyle colts with Derby aspirations.

Ferguson said: "There has been a lot to digest over the last few days, but His Highness Sheikh Mohammed loves having runners in the Derby at Epsom, and he is greatly encouraged by the reports he is getting about his latest group of three-year-olds.

"They will be monitored closely from this point, and we will also see now what happens at York," he added.

Thursday's G2 Dante Stakes at York is expected to provide the last major piece of the Derby puzzle.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Midterm attempts to retain his unbeaten record.

Speaking of unbeaten three-year-olds, the American colt Nyquist was far too classy for his rivals in the G1 Kentucky Derby and looks a prime candidate to become the next Triple Crown winner, only 12 months after American Pharoah.

Nyquist will join the Darley stallion roster at the end of his racing career.

Gosden trained Benny The Dip (1997) and Golden Horn (2015) to win the Derby, Fabre trained Pour Moi (2011) and Bolger New Approach (2008).