Godolphin line up Best Solution, Benbatl, Dubai Thunder and Best Of Days for shot at Epson Derby

EPSON, ENGLAND // Godolphin and Coolmore appear on a collision course for next Saturday after both camps underlined their intentions of fielding large teams for the Derby.

Godolphin’s chief executive John Ferguson revealed that it was the Dubai-based organisation’s intention to run four horses in the British Classic in Best Solution, Benbatl, Dubai Thunder and Best Of Days. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed’s Permian would be the fifth horse to run for the Dubai Royal family. In the dark blue Coolmore corner Aidan O’Brien could run up to seven horses, one shy of his personal record of eight representatives in 2007 when his whole team were wiped out by Authorized.

O’Brien has won the Derby five times and in Cliffs Of Moher, the smooth winner of the Dee Stakes winner at Chester two weeks ago, he has the big-race favourite. He could be joined by the first three home in the Derby trial at Leopardstown in Douglas Macarthur, Yucatan, Capri and the first three in the Chester Vase in Venice Beach, Wings Of Eagles and The Anvil.

In contrast, a horse carrying the Godolphin silks has never won the Derby although Saeed bin Suroor did saddle Lammtarra to victory in 1995. Despite Godolphin’s record, Ferguson was upbeat about scooping a first win, although it came across that Permian, the Dante Stakes winner, trained by Mark Johnston may well hold the best chance of all.

“I think at this stage we have five names on the team sheet and we’ll see what happens over the next 10 days,” he said. “All five have legitimate chances and that is a great way to be coming in.

“Permian has improved so much. He has a superb, world-class pedigree. I think he is a horse with a really big chance.”

Best Solution ran twice without luck on dirt in Dubai during the winter but returned to turf and, stepped up in distance at Lingfield 12 days ago, he won the Derby trial at a course that shares similar characteristics to Epsom.

“The one question mark about him he has answered – whether he could stay the 12 furlongs (2,400 metres) and he has proved he can,” Ferguson said.

“He had a couple of runs at Meydan but got the sunshine throughout the winter. He thoroughly deserves to be there and should be there in the shake-up.”

Dubai Thunder advertised his ability with a runaway maiden win on his first visit to a racecourse last week and is likely to be given a chance to become the most inexperienced winner for over 40 years.

“The manner with which he did it surprised me, but he has always showed he could do it at home,” Ferguson said. “It is a big, big, ask. We did it with Lammtarra many years to go. If Saeed thinks it is the right thing to do, then who am I to tell him not to?”

Who will ride the five horses is still open to question. William Buick is in pole position to choose and is likely to be given the ride on Best Solution who he has ridden before. James Doyle is set to return from the Gold Coast in Australia, where Godolphin announced a new trainer on Tuesday in James Cummings, in time to partner possibly Hugo Palmer’s Best Of Days, who must pass a final workout next week before being give the green light.

Who rides Benbatl and Permian is still unclear, but no jockey has ridden in Britain this season more for Bin Suroor than Josephine Gordon, who is the only rider to have guided Benbatl to victory in his three starts. Adam Kirby could well reprise the ride on Dubai Thunder.

“I don’t want to commit to jockeys. It is all to play for,” Ferguson said.

As an amuse-bouche to the Godolphin-Coolmore Derby clash Thunder Snow, the UAE Derby winner who bucked away his chance in the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago is in line to take on Churchill, the English, Guineas winner, in the this Saturday’s Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh.

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