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Charlie Appleby confirms Nations Pride to be supplemented for the Cazoo Derby

NEWMARKET, ENGLAND - APRIL 29: William Buick riding Nations Pride (blue) win The Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Newmarket Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse on April 29, 2022 in Newmarket, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
Nations Pride: will run in the Cazoo DerbyCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Leading Cazoo Derby contender Nations Pride will be supplemented for the Epsom Classic following his impressive workout earlier this week, trainer Charlie Appleby has confirmed.

The Godolphin-owned three-year-old, who is the general 7-1 third-favourite for the race following his impressive win in the Newmarket Stakes last month, will be added to the field at the cost of £75,000 on Monday.

He will lead a three-strong team in the Derby for connections, who were successful with Adayar last year and Masar in 2018. Walk Of Stars and Blue Riband Trial winner Nahanni are also set to take their chance.


4.30 Epsom: Cazoo Derby card and betting


"He worked on Wednesday with a reliable and very able lead horse and he looked very good. Importantly, he has done well since and I have been delighted with him since the gallop," Appleby said.

"He has the right profile for Epsom. He’s got five runs under his belt, having won the Jumeirah Derby and then taking the Newmarket Stakes, where William [Buick] was very pleased the way he went through the line.

"It gave us as good an indication as any that the step up to a mile and a half is going to suit him and we think he deserves to be supplemented."

EPSOM, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Adam Kirby riding Nahanni (R), Patrick Hills riding Walk Of Stars (C) and Michael Metcalfe riding Manobo (L) have a racecourse gallop at Epsom Racecourse on May 23, 2022 in Epsom, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
Nahanni (right) and Walk Of Stars (centre) worked at Epsom on Monday morningCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

While the son of Teofilo will lead the Derby charge for the powerful operation, Appleby warned punters not to dismiss Lingfield Derby Trial second Walk Of Stars and Nahanni, who are 16-1 and 20-1 shots in the market respectively.

"Nahanni is a son of Frankel and we know what he can do now," the trainer added. "He’s won over a mile and a half, so he ticks that box, and he’s also won on the track. He’s got the right mindset too and won’t look out of place in the Derby.

"Walk Of Stars is a challenge to himself, as well as us, but he’s definitely grown up since Lingfield and I’m pleased how he has come out of the Epsom gallops morning on Monday.

"We have three nice horses with slightly different profiles, but if they can turn up fit and well they won’t look out of place."

It has already been a fruitful spring for Appleby and Godolphin with Classic success in Britain, Ireland and France. Coroebus started a Guineas treble with victory at Newmarket before Modern Games won at Longchamp and Native Trail, second to Coroebus on the Rowley
Mile, sealed a remarkable few weeks when when powering up the Curragh straight to win the Irish 2,000 Guineas last weekend.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Desert Crown, winner of the Dante Stakes at York, remains the Derby favourite at 15-8 with the Aidan O'Brien-trained Stone Age next best with bookmakers at 3-1.


Cazoo Derby (4.30 Epsom, June 4)

Paddy Power: 15-8 Desert Crown, 3 Stone Age, 7 Nations Pride, Piz Badile, Changingoftheguard, 12 Star Of India, United Nations, 16 Walk Of Stars, Westover, Eydon, 20 bar


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Matt RennieReporter

Published on 27 May 2022inNews

Last updated 18:07, 27 May 2022

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