Curragh hoping Desert Crown avails of free entry

Curragh officials are keeping fingers crossed they can welcome Desert Crown on his next start with the Epsom hero entitled to free entry into the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby later this month.

Sir Michael Stoute’s unbeaten star is not among 62 entries still figuring in the €1 million classic at HQ. However, under the “win and you’re in” scheme introduced to boost participation in Ireland’s premier classic, the winner of the Derby at Epsom can be added to the field at no cost to connections.

Stoute is set to meet with Desert Crown’s owner Saeed Suhail to discuss future options for the colt on the back of his ultra-impressive success at Epsom on Saturday.

The owner’s spokesman, Bruce Raymond, played down the significance of free entry to the Curragh classic but said a trip to Ireland is among possible options for Desert Crown.

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“He is Michael Stoute’s horse and he probably knew last year what he was going to enter in. If he wanted to put him in [the Irish Derby] we wouldn’t worry about supplementary.

“I think there are a lot of other considerations, obviously the King George and maybe the Eclipse before that. He would have won this Derby at a mile and a quarter so it opens up a lot of options for him,” Raymond said on Monday.

Desert Crown doesn’t figure among entries for Sandown’s Eclipse at the start of July either, but that race’s 10-furlong trip could be appealing in the context of his future stud appeal despite having to encounter older horses for the first time.

Stoute enjoyed a sixth Epsom Derby victory at the weekend. Two of his former winners, Shergar (1981) and Shahrastani (1986) went on to complete the Derby double while North Light (2004) was runner-up to Grey Swallow at the Curragh.

Kris Kin, who carried the same colours as Desert Crown, didn’t take up the Irish Derby option in 2003 due to ground conditions.

Sunday’s impressive Prix du Jockey Club winner Vadeni is unlikely to travel to the Curragh despite his owner the Aga Khan’s long association with the track.

The main stand was named in the Aga Khan’s honour when the revamped course was officially opened in 2019.

So, Desert Crown getting a chance to become the 19th colt to complete the Derby double would be a major boost to the Curragh.

The last horse to do the double was Harzand in 2016. The last Epsom winner to line up in the Irish Derby was Anthony Van Dyck three years ago. He finished a six-length runner-up to his stable companion Sovereign. He is one of 14 Irish Derby winners saddled by Aidan O’Brien.

Westover, an unlucky third at Epsom over the weekend, is a general 2-1 favourite with firms for the Curragh classic.

In other news, the French Oaks later this month could be a target for Nashwa.

The John & Thady Gosden-trained filly was third to Tuesday in the Oaks at Epsom on Friday but a quick reappearance in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly in less than a fortnight hasn’t been ruled out.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to her owner Imad Al Sagar, said: “I think we’re all delighted with her and I think she ran a great race. Hollie [Doyle] gave her a great ride, she had every chance and probably just didn’t stay out the last little bit.

“She’ll probably drop back now to 10 furlongs and we’ll consider the options. Obviously the main possible ones are the Prix de Diane and after that the Nassau.

“I think we’ll be looking along those lines, depending on how she comes out of the race. She’s going to be a great prospect for the future.”

In 2015, the Gosden-trained Star Of Seville won the Diane just nine days after having finished out of the money behind Qualify in the Oaks at Epsom.

Nashwa is a general 3-1 favourite with most firms to manage the same feat in a race run over an extended mile and a quarter.

The Diane has been dominated by Irish runners in the last two years. Donnacha O’Brien’s Fancy Blue emerged best of an Irish 1-2-3 in 2020 while Joan Of Arc was successful for O’Brien’s father Aidan last season.