Camelot out to be Derby king

Camelot heads 143 colts remaining in the Investec Derby following the first forfeit stage for the premier Classic at Epsom on June 2.

Last season’s Racing Post Trophy winner is one of 25 possible contenders for Aidan O’Brien, who can also call upon Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf hero Wrote and Beresford Stakes scorer David Livingston.

John Oxx, like O’Brien twice successful in the Derby, has Born To Sea among his five entries. The Invincible Spirit colt, runner-up in the Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown on his final juvenile start, is a half-brother to two Derby heroes in Galileo and Oxx’s Sea The Stars.

Sir Henry Cecil’s six contenders include Noble Mission, second on his only start to date at Yarmouth and full brother to the stable’s world champion Frankel.

Marcus Tregoning, meanwhile, is dreaming of Cavaleiro, a son of his 2006 Derby winner Sir Percy, emulating his sire. The Lambourn trainer has high hopes after Cavaleiro ended a busy two-year-old campaign with victory in the Haynes, Hanson & Clark Conditions Stakes in September.

The Newbury contest has yielded numerous clues for the Derby over the years, with Henbit and Shergar having won both races, while Shahrastani and Authorized were both placed en route to Classic glory at Epsom.

Tregoning said: “We have obviously got quite a way to go with Cavaleiro before the Derby but we will run him in a trial and take it from there.

“He’s had plenty of experience as a two-year-old and won his latest two starts, which was good. He’s going to have to step up considerably on his next start and we are thinking about either the Lingfield Derby Trial, Chester or Sandown.

“I also haven’t ruled out the possibility of running him in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket, which might suit him.

“Physically, he has done very well over the winter and we are very pleased with him on that score. He’s quite a laid-back horse, who keeps finding a bit, so we are hopeful that he can continue to progress.”