Leading Cazoo Derby contender Nations Pride will be supplemented for the Epsom Classic following his impressive workout earlier this week, trainer Charlie Appleby has confirmed.
The Godolphin-owned three-year-old, who is the general 7-1 third-favourite for the race following his impressive win in the Newmarket Stakes last month, will be added to the field at the cost of £75,000 on Monday.
He will lead a three-strong team in the Derby for connections, who were successful with Adayar last year and Masar in 2018, with Walk Of Stars and Blue Riband Trial winner Nahanni also set to take their chance.
“He worked on Wednesday with a reliable and very able lead horse and he looked very good. Importantly, he has done well since and I have been delighted with him since the gallop,” Appleby said.
“He has the right profile for Epsom. He’s got five runs under his belt, having won the Jumeirah Derby and then taking the Newmarket Stakes, where William [Buick] was very pleased the way he went through the line.
“It gave us as good an indication as any that the step up to a mile and a half is going to suit him and we think he deserves to be supplemented.”
Nahanni (right) and Walk Of Stars (centre) worked at Epsom on Monday morning
Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)
While the son of Teofilo will lead the Derby charge for the powerful operation, Appleby warned not to dismiss Lingfield Derby Trial second Walk Of Stars and Nahanni, who are 16-1 and 20-1 shots in the market respectively.
“Nahanni is a son of Frankel and we know what he can do now,” the trainer added. “He’s won over a mile and a half, so he ticks that box, and he’s also won on the track. He’s got the right mindset too and won’t look out of place in the Derby.
“Walk Of Stars is a challenge to himself, as well as us, but he’s definitely grown up since Lingfield and I’m pleased how he has come out of the Epsom gallops morning on Monday.
“We have three nice horses with slightly different profiles, but if they can turn up fit and well they won’t look out of place.”
It has already been a fruitful spring for Appleby and Godolphin with Classic success in Britain, Ireland and France. Coroebus started a Guineas treble with victory at Newmarket before Modern Games won at Longchamp and Native Trail, second to Coroebus on the Rowley Mile, sealed a remarkable couple of weeks when powering up the Curragh straight to win the Irish 2,000 Guineas last weekend.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Desert Crown, winner of the Dante Stakes at York, remains the Derby favourite at 15-8 with the Aidan O’Brien-trained Stone Age next best with bookmakers at 3-1.
Cazoo Derby
Paddy Power: 15-8 Desert Crown, 3 Stone Age, 7 Nations Pride, 8 Piz Badile, Changingoftheguard, 14 United Nations, Star Of India, 16 Westover, Walk Of Stars, Eydon, 20 Nahanni, 25 bar
