Derby heroes in waiting: five of the most exciting prospects for Epsom

The 2019 Derby may only be a speck on the horizon, but 338 possible Classic contenders were entered for the Epsom showpiece on Wednesday. Bloodstock expert James Thomas highlights five yearlings with eyecatching pedigrees

Faylaq
Dubawi - Danedream (Lomitas)
William Haggas

As a son of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Danedream and leading stallion Dubawi – already the sire of the likes of Postponed, Al Kazeem and Dartmouth – Faylaq's pedigree credentials are crystal clear.

Unsurprisingly he had more than his fair share of admirers when he came up for auction back in October, with Shadwell parting with 1,500,000gns to secure him. Dubawi has yet to supply a Derby winner, but with 21 entries in the 2019 renewal he looks to hold a strong early hand.

Danedream: won the 2011 Prix de l'Arc de TriompheCredit: Mark Cranham

Unnamed
Galileo - Hveger (Danehill)
Aidan O'Brien

Highland Reel may not have run in the Derby himself, but having won seven other top-level events, including Sunday's Hong Kong Vase – and amassing a European record level of prize-money – his younger brother makes obvious appeal for the Epsom showpiece.

The colt was the final lot to go through the ring at the prestigious Tattersalls Book 1 October Yearling Sale, where he fetched 240,000gns from Coolmore's MV Magnier.

The colt is also a brother to the classy Idaho – who finished third to Harzand in 2016 – and is by perennial champion sire Galileo, who has supplied three Derby winners in Australia, New Approach and Ruler Of The World.

Unnamed
Australia - Peeping Fawn (Danehill)
Aidan O'Brien

The first crop of 2014 Derby winner Australia will be hitting the track next year, and 23 of his colts have been entered in the 2019 Epsom Classic. The most eye-catching of those is the colt out of four-time Group 1 winner Peeping Fawn.

Peeping Fawn's victories included the Irish Oaks, so there is plenty of Classic form contained within this Australia colt's pedigree.

Peeping Fawn has also gone on to make her mark as a broodmare, having produced Royal Ascot winner September and the Group 2-placed Sir John Hawkins. Among Australia's other entries is a half-brother to recent Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling.

Unnamed
Frankel - Ramruma (Diesis)
Roger Charlton

The highlight of Ramruma's glittering racecourse career came when she landed the 1999 Oaks. She now has the chance to further her Epsom legacy with her son, who is by the mighty Frankel, looking a likely candidate for the 2019 Derby.

Frankel: has made a fabulous start to life at stud and could have a Classic contender on his hands with the son of Oaks winner RamrumaCredit: Juddmonte Farms/Asunción Piñeyrúa

Frankel's stallion career has got off to a rapid start, having already sired the likes of Cracksman, Eminent and the hugely promising Elarqam.

The colt cost connections €100,000 earlier in the year and could quickly look money well spent if he can live up to his illustrious pedigree.

Unnamed
Dansili - Funsie (Saumarez)
Sir Mark Prescott

Siblings to Classic winners are about as rare as hen's teeth, so this half-brother to 2007 Derby hero Authorized is well worth keeping a close eye on.

Authorized: has a half-brother in training with Sir Mark PrescottCredit: Mark Cranham

Dansili has yet to supply a Classic winner over 12 furlongs, but is responsible for 20 Group 1 winners, including the likes of Dank, Harbinger and The Fugue.

At 75,000gns this colt cost a fraction of what his famous half-brother did (400,000gns) as a yearling, but Sir Mark Prescott has never hidden his ambition to win the Derby, and in this colt he has an entrant with clear pedigree claims.