Carlton House can give Queen Elizabeth II her first win in the Derby on Saturday but whether Kieren Fallon makes the Epsom line-up hinges on the verdict of a sensational eleventh hour court case.
The 46-year-old Irishman’s right to ride in the blue riband is being challenged by the Turkish owner of English 2000 Guineas third placegetter Native Khan.
Ibrahim Araci alleges that Fallon had broken “a promise” to ride Native Khan in favour of Recital for his former retainer Aidan O’Brien.
Fallon, seeking a fourth Derby win, attended Thursday’s hearing at the High Court in London with a verdict due to be delivered later on Friday.
Araci alleges Fallon had signed a written agreement to ride his Ed Dunlop-trained colt at Epsom.
Fallon denies breach of contract.
Carlton House meanwhile appears to have overcome his own pre-race worries.
A gift as a yearling to the Queen from the ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum, Carlton House, trained by five-time Derby winner Sir Michael Stoute, strained ankle ligaments on Monday.
But the Queen’s racing adviser John Warren gave an upbeat bulletin late Thursday, reporting: “We are pleased to report that Carlton House did a good exercise this morning and he is very much still on target for Saturday’s Derby.”
There is now every chance that not only will his royal owner be rewarded for her life-time devotion to the ‘Sport of Kings’ but also that Stoute and jockey Ryan Moore will win their second successive Derby, having captured it last year with Workforce.
Queen Elizabeth has already visited the winner’s enclosure at Epsom, but that was for the 1977 Oaks when her filly Dunfermline prevailed.
The Derby is the only English classic to elude her – the closest she came was second in 1953, the year of her Coronation, with Aureole.
Judged on the form Carlton House has shown in his two wins in three starts, and especially his victory in the influential trial the Dante Stakes last month, the Queen has every chance of becoming the first ruling English monarch to win the Epsom Derby since Edward VII saw Minoru win in 1909.
Carlton House has two major rivals in French raider Pour Moi – owned by the powerful Irish operation Coolmore Stud – and Recital.
Like the Queen, Pour Moi’s trainer Andre Fabre has yet to win the Derby, a strange anomaly given that the 65-year-old seven-time Arc de Triomphe-winning handler has carried all before him in virtually every other major European race.
However, Fabre is positively purring over the chances of ending his drought after he had watched Pour Moi work over the challenging camber track at Epsom.
“Pour Moi is the best chance I’ve ever had here. He’s a good horse,” Fabre, whose best finish in the race has been fifth, said.
“I am seriously in love with him and I expect to be unpopular if I beat Her Majesty’s horse.
“He enjoyed going downhill and enjoyed the track. I’m quite pleased. Nearly all my Derby runners were a disaster so far.”
AFP AAP TURF
