Cazoo Derby: One Ruler and John Leeper update

One Ruler

b c Dubawi (IRE) – Fintry (IRE) (Shamardal (USA)
Owner: Godolphin

Leading prospect as a two year old, finishing second in a strong renewal of Group One Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster. Respectable sixth on return in QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and now stepped up in trip.

Trainer Charlie Appleby said: “I was very pleased with what I saw there. He is a naturally balanced horse but he hasn’t encountered anything like that before. The whole object of the exercise was to let him have a look at the track but more importantly he was fresh in the Guineas as you saw there.

“The first couple or three furlongs he was taking James (Doyle) on a bit. We already had it in our mindset that we were going to come straight from the Guineas to The Derby. We felt that bringing him would ensure we wouldn’t be going into The Derby too fresh – that was the main objective of the exercise and I was delighted with what I saw there.

“He is a horse that has form on soft ground so these conditions weren’t going to worry us. From what we have seen so far you couldn’t be happier. He has moved well on the track and picked up well up the straight there. Visually, I don’t think you could be any happier with what we saw really.

“He is a different horse when he comes to the track - he just lights up more. At home he is a nice worker but he gets into a nice routine at home that he gets comfortable in so it is nice to bring them away and just see what really is under the bonnet there a little bit and from what I’ve seen today I’m happy so far.

“If the race was 10 furlongs you would be delighted. It is going to be a big question mark the mile and a half, there is no doubt about it. On his pedigree there is a question mark but he is an Autumn Stakes winner and he was doing his best work towards the end there, likewise in the Vertem Futurity Trophy (over a mile). It was his last couple of hundred yards that put him back into second when he stayed at it dourly.

“James (Doyle) said although it was quick in the Guineas he rode like a horse that would appreciate stepping up in trip. The trip is a big question mark and though it is a mile and a half and though you have a bit of a climb you freewheel downhill for two furlongs or so there and though I’m not saying it is an easy mile and a half, if he is going to get it he has got as good a chance of getting it around here.

“He was a horse in the Guineas that was doing it the wrong way round being as keen as he was. At the five pole you thought he could quietly fade away there what he done early doors but he didn’t and I have to be honest I was keeping my eye firmly on Master Of The Seas, I lost sight of One Ruler. It wasn’t until I watched the replay that I was pleasantly surprised how he finished his race off. Hopefully that will put us in good stead over a mile and a half here.

“William (Buick) had the choice of them and we spoke about it. Without putting too much pressure on William I said it would be helpful from the team’s point of view to make a call as it gives James the chance to ride him here if he is going to be riding him in the Derby.

“William said it is not very often that you get the chance to ride a Dante winner in the Derby so his mind was firmly set on staying with Hurricane Lane and therefore James is first man to be jumping up on One Ruler.

“I’m delighted with Hurricane Lane. As you saw at York he is one of those characters that is very laid back. He just goes about his business but he has come out of the race very well and I’m looking forward to getting him here.

“One Ruler and Hurricane Lane are two different horses. One Ruler has solid Group One two year old form and is a Group Three winner at two as well as winning the Autumn Stakes, which is a great race to have coming into a three year old career.

“Hurricane Lane on the other hand had one run on bottomless ground at the back end of last year at Newmarket. He then came out and did what he did at Newbury before going to York. He comes here as an unexposed horse. He wouldn’t have the natural pace of One Ruler.

“Hurricane Lane you wouldn’t have been dropping into Group One company as a three year old over a mile as he is very much a staying type. As we saw in the Dante his best work was in the last couple of hundred yards. Everything bodes well to step him up to a mile and a half as it might seek further improvement.

“The day of Masar (winning the 2018 Derby) was one we will never forget from myself, my family and the team’s point of view. He was the first horse to win in the Goldolphin blue and for His Highness and the Royal family to be here it was a very special occasion. We all know winning the Derby is something everyone would love to have on their CV.”

John Leeper

b c Frankel – Snow Fairy (IRE) (Intikhab (USA)
Owner: Anamoine Limited

Out of 2010 Oaks heroine Snow Fairy and named after the late John Dunlop, the dual Derby-winning trainer father of Ed Dunlop. Built on promising debut to win a novice contest in striking fashion on return at Newcastle in April and impressed again when a decisive winner of Listed Betway Fairway Stakes at Newmarket earlier this month.

Trainer Ed Dunlop said: “We were never going to do too much whether the ground was nice or not as he only the weekend before last. This was about bringing him to get a bit more experience with Adam (Kirby) on him. The ground was very soft, almost heavy but he looked to enjoy himself.

“Hopefully everything will be okay and we will be back here on the first Saturday in June. He is an inexperienced horse but what I was pleased to see today was that he has been very relaxed doing the whole thing. He is not a baby but everything was new to him today. I was thrilled with the way he behaved and he wasn’t keen going down the hill which was good as they were only going slowly.

“There was a bit of a concern with Newmarket as it was such a farcical race that he just latched a bit earlier than we would have liked to and it was something we had never really seen. I think he did well to win at Newmarket. William (Buick) was very good. He kicked on and got on with it. That was all part of his learning curve. He hasn’t done much wrong so far but there is still a long way to go as they say.

“We always liked him last year. He had a tiny hiccup after Doncaster last year which meant we weren’t able to run him again. He was a very big, immature horse so he was never going to do much as a two year old. We like him and he was bred to be liked but as we have said before many of the well bred horses don’t turn out to be much cop, but hopefully this horse will. You hoped he could get to this stage.

“We would have been disappointed if he hadn’t won his maiden and he has now won his Listed race but he has now got to step up markedly to be competitive in The Derby, which at the moment the Irish look like they have a stranglehold on. We will just keep him fit, healthy and sound leading up to the race and the rest will be up to the Gods. The trip should be up his street as his mum won The Oaks, although she was better as time went on at a mile and a quarter, but I’d be surprised if there was any problem with the trip.

“It is probably one of the more interesting stories of the race. Having a horse named after my father is very exciting, and it creates a little bit of pressure for everyone but at the moment the horse has no idea there is any pressure on him so hopefully we can enjoy it. Of course it is quite emotional as well and it would be a great day if he could go on and win The Derby.”

Jockey Adam Kirby partnered John Leeper today and will also be in the saddle for The Cazoo Derby.

Kirby, who also rides Saffron Beach in The Cazoo Oaks, said: “I’ve got two very nice horses to ride at Epsom this year so let’s hope we have a bit of luck on our side. I’ve taken everything in my stride so far. I’m a bit older and wiser and I will just take it as it comes.

“It was brilliant when I got the call to ride John Leeper. I didn’t know whether Ed was winding me up as he has got that in him, but luckily he wasn’t. It is a great ride to pick up and thanks to Ed and all the connections. Let’s hope we can pull it out of the bag for them. It would be lovely for him but let’s hope it all goes smoothly on the day.

“It was the second time that I have sat on him. I was really pleased with him. He settled lovely on the way down. He didn’t get worked up or in a stew. He relaxed beautifully in behind and when I pulled him out in the straight he gave me a really good feel so I’m really pleased with him. Hopefully everything will be perfect for him here as all the signs are pointing that way. He appreciated getting his toe in and he appears to handle most grounds. He is a great ride to pick up and I can’t thank connections enough.

“The Newmarket race was a messy event and I’d be very surprised if The Derby was run like that. I’m not worried about his lack of experience. He is there and he flicks his ears back ready for every command and he has got a good tactical gear change.

“He has not witnessed a crowd like there will be here before but there are not very many that have so lots of us are in the same boat. I was very pleased with his attitude today - he was really chilled out. Hopefully the race at Newmarket has put him spot on. I should think I might sit on him once more before the race if Ed wants me to but it is so far so good.”

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