EPSOM, UK— Ballydoyle look to have added another star to their squad for next month’s Cazoo Derby at Epsom Downs, after Star Of India showed plenty of ability to strike in the Listed Dee Stakes at Chester for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore.
The son of Galileo struggled when fifth of six over a mile on reappearance in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket last month, but he stepped up for the extra two and a half furlongs today, tracking the pace and quickly asserting in the straight.
It marked a fifth win in the Listed contest for Moore, who also won yesterday’s Derby trial on the Roodee for O’Brien with Changingoftheguard.
After success in today’s race as the 6-4 favourite, Star Of India was shortened into a general price of 16-1 for the Epsom Downs Classic, joining stablemates Luxembourg (2-1), Changingoftheguard (10-1) and Point Lonsdale (16-1) as Ballydoyle horses currently trading at 16-1 or shorter.
The last Dee Stakes winner to follow up in the Derby itself was the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Kris Kin in 2003 and while jockey Moore would not be drawn into making comparisons with the Ballydoyle contingent, he does believe that there is more to come from Star Of India.
He said: “I think he’s a nice horse and it was only his third run. He gave a nice performance at Leopardstown last year and he was still a little bit raw in the parade ring. A mile on fast ground (at Newmarket last time) – it all just happened a bit quick for him.
“He’s done it nicely because he was still a bit green when he got to the front, so I think he’ll improve. He’s a very laidback horse and I’d say that we’re only just getting to know what he can do at home – we’re still learning about him.
“He was green early on. Once he had room and I went after him he picked up well. He’ll get better, there’s no doubt about that and he was getting to the line very easily then. He’s a nice type and I’d hope that he’d improve.
“I wouldn’t compare them (the two Chester winners), as I think they’re slightly different horses really. The horse yesterday (Changingoftheguard) was very impressive and the way this race was run this horse couldn’t be as impressive, but he overcame a few things and won well.”
Coolmore’s UK representative Kevin Buckley added: “We’re very pleased with that, Aidan thought that he would improve for this step up in distance and obviously he’s a full brother to Roman Empire. He handled the track really well and gave Ryan a feel and did everything he asked of him – Aidan thinks there could be more improvement from that.
“The most important thing, as we all know, from Chester is that he will have learned plenty from today. There’s a wonderful atmosphere today and lots of people so it’s a great learning curve for the horses.”
Asked if Star Of India could improve running over a longer distance, Buckley added: “I think there’s a possibility. That was his next stepping stone and I don’t think, given his pedigree, that he’d have any issue going up to a mile and a half. We’ll talk to the lads about Epsom now.
“Given the fact that he’s Roman Empire’s brother and he ran in the Dante of course, on pedigree this was always going to suit and we were looking forward to campaigning him over that distance. You need to be slick as well around here so it was good – Ryan was very pleased with him and every time he was asked a question he answered, which was the whole purpose of bringing him here.”
Star Of India provided a 350th black type winner for the stallion Galileo and Buckley commented: “It continues the legacy of Galileo. Obviously it was very sad for us all at Coolmore to lose Galileo but his impact carries on and he’s still got his final crop of foals being born this year. Numerically it’s not many but we’ve still got those to look forward to.”
By Nick Seddon/ The Jockey Club Press Release
