Runner-by-runner pedigree guide to an absorbing Derby puzzle

Anthony Van Dyck
Pedigree: Galileo - Believe 'N' Succeed (Exceed And Excel)
Breeder: Orpendale, Chelston and Wynatt

One of six sons of Galileo in the field, Anthony Van Dyck will be bidding to give the perennial champion sire a fourth winner of the Derby, following on from New Approach (2008), Ruler Of The World (2013) and Australia (2014).

Galileo has sired a staggering 76 Group/Grade 1 winners, and Anthony Van Dyck is bred on a variation of the cross responsible for 15 of those. He is out of a mare by Exceed And Excel who in turn is by Danehill, meaning Anthony Van Dyck is bred on an extension of the nick responsible for the likes of Frankel, Highland Reel and Teofilo.

On pedigree alone it would be easy to question Anthony Van Dyck's stamina, as his dam was a Group 3-winning sprinter in Australia who produced the 6f Group 1 winner Bounding. However, those doubts were allayed to a large degree when Anthony Van Dyck landed the Lingfield Derby Trial on his most recent outing.

Bangkok
Australia - Tanaghum (Darshaan)
Barronstown Stud

The King Power Racing runner cost 500,000gns as a yearling, and boasts a pedigree befitting such a price-tag. He is from the debut crop of Australia, who landed the Derby himself in 2014, and is a sibling to four black-type performers, led by the Group 2-placed Matterhorn and the Group 3 winner Tactic.

He is also a half-brother to Mujarah, dam of four-time Group 1 winner Ribchester, and Zahoo, dam of Group 3 scorer Convergence.

Bangkok is out of the Listed-placed Darshaan mare Tanaghum, who in turn is out of the Group 1 winner Mehthaaf, meaning he is bred on an extension of the cross responsible for horses like Telescope and Shantaram.

He was bred by Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association hall of famers David and Diane Nagle of Barronstown Stud, whose roll of honour includes 28 Group 1 winners, such as dual Derby hero Generous as well as Kew Gardens, Oratorio and Yeats.

Broome
Australia - Sweepstake (Acclamation)
Epona Bloodstock

The debut crop of Australia boasts two representatives, the more fancied of which is Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes scorer Broome.

While Broome's male line is steeped in Derby success, his female family is altogether more speedy. He is the sixth foal out of Sweepstake, a daughter of Acclamation who struck at Listed level at two over 5f before going on to finish third in the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes over 6f.

Although Sweepstake did prove her stamina for a mile at three having been transferred to the US, her sire is a renowned source of speed having supplied the likes of Aclaim, Dark Angel, Equiano and Marsha. Broome is proven over 1m2f, but it remains to be seen whether his sire has imparted enough stamina for the demands of the Derby to bring out the best in him.

Broome boasts a slightly unusual sales history for a Classic contender, having been a vendor buyback at €120,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale before fetching 150,000gns from Coolmore's MV Magnier just two months later at the Tattersalls December Sale.

Japan
Galileo - Shastye (Danehill)
Newsells Park Stud

Having cost MV Magnier, the Mayfair Speculators and Peter and Ross Doyle 1,300,000gns at Tattersalls in 2017, Japan is comfortably the most expensive member of this year's Derby field.

He is the ninth foal out of Newsells Park Stud's remarkable mare Shastye, a Danehill half-sister to Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Sagamix. Now aged 18, Shastye has produced five winners, four of whom have scored at stakes level.

They include Middleton Stakes victress Secret Gesture, who also ran second in the Oaks won by Talent in 2013, and Group 3 winner Sir Isaac Newton. Being by Galileo, both are full-siblings to Japan.

Japan (left) lands the Beresford StakesCredit: Alain Barr

Interestingly, even Japan's lofty price-tag pales in comparison to that of his year-younger brother, as Magnier parted with 3,400,000gns to bring the Galileo colt into the Coolmore fold at Tattersalls last year.

Madhmoon
Dawn Approach - Aaraas (Haafhd)
Shadwell Estate Company

As a son of Dawn Approach, Madhmoon is the only runner among the market principals not sired by a Derby winner. Dawn Approach did win four Group 1s, including the 2,000 Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes, but refused to settle and finished last behind Ruler Of The World at Epsom in 2013.

Madhmoon is out of Aaraas, a winner over 6f and Group 3-placed over 1m2f and by the 2,000 Guineas winner Haafhd. There are other relations who suggest stamina may prove to be an issue for Madhmoon, as his dam is a half-sister to the dam of Awtaad, whose finest hour came over a mile in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.

Dawn Approach is a son of New Approach, and therefore a grandson of Galileo, but if Kevin Prendergast's colt is to taste Derby success he will need to outstay the distaff side of his pedigree.

Sir Dragonet
Camelot - Sparrow (Oasis Dream)
Orpendale, Wynatt and Chelston

If ever a pedigree has been precision engineered for Epsom it is the one belonging to Sir Dragonet. Not only is he from the second crop of Camelot, who triumphed in the 2012 Derby, his female line also contains three winners of the 1m4f Classic.

He is the first foal out of Sparrow, a Group 3-placed daughter of Oasis Dream and All Too Beautiful, winner of the Middleton Stakes at York. All Too Beautiful, who also produced the Cheshire Oaks winner and Oaks runner-up Wonder Of Wonders, is a full-sister to none other than Galileo, being by the breed-shaping Sadler's Wells and out of the hugely influential Urban Sea.

Sir Dragonet streaks clear in the Chester VaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

This lineage means that Sea The Stars also appears in Sir Dragonet's further family, as does last year's Derby hero Masar. As a son of Camelot, Sir Dragonet is also a descendant of the Montjeu sire-line, which has been responsible for Derby winners Motivator, Authorized, Pour Moi, Camelot himself and Wings Of Eagles.

Telecaster
New Approach - Shirocco Star (Shirocco)
Meon Valley Stud

Telecaster will be bidding to supply New Approach, who is standing 2019 at £30,000 at Darley's Dalham Hall Stud, with back-to-back Derby winners after Masar's triumph 12 months ago. Should Telecaster score on Saturday, he would also give his sire a third Epsom Classic winner, after his first-crop daughter Talent landed the Oaks in 2013.

Not only is Telecaster by a Derby winner, with New Approach becoming the first son of Galileo to land the Group 1 prize in 2008, but his dam Shirocco Star also brings some serious Epsom form to the pedigree, as she finished second, beaten just a neck, behind Was in the 2012 Oaks.

There is more Oaks form further back in the pedigree, as Telecaster is an ancestor of Meon Valley Stud's foundation mare Reprocolor, who finished fourth in the fillies Classic in 1979, as well as landing the Lingfield Oaks Trial and the Lancashire Oaks.

Best of the rest...

Galileo is due to be represented by four more sons in Saturday's Classic and, unusually, two are out of mares who were disqualified after causing interference in Group 1 races.

Circus Maximus is the first foal out of Duntle, who finished first past the post in the Matron Stakes but was demoted to second behind Chachamaidee, while Godolphin's Line Of Duty is out of Jacqueline Quest, who was famously placed second behind Special Duty in the 1,000 Guineas.

Should Norway emerge victorious his dam, Love Me True, will equal a feat last achieved by Urban Sea by producing two Derby winners. Norway is her 11th foal and is a Galileo brother to her seventh, Ruler Of The World, while that pair are also half-brothers to Duke Of Marmalade.

Frankel – fresh from his debut British Classic success courtesy of Anapurna in the Oaks on Friday – may not have a runner in this year's Derby, but his full-brother Noble Mission is represented in the Group 1 for the first time, with John Gosden due to saddle the improving Humanitarian.