Agree, I had her in my tracker since finishing 3rd last year. I see her as a Leger type. Loads of stamina in family. Alex my Boy stayed 2mile 4f.

Could this be one of the weakest 3-y-o middle distance crops in recent times? 2011 was pretty weak, 2013 as well, and now there isn't a clear winner of the Derby in 2016.
There has been nothing in the way of standout performances in any of the Derby trials in Britain and Ireland recently.

US Army Ranger's controversial win in the Chester Vase after winning what now looks like a weak maiden on debut, Port Douglas was a good juvenile and was probably the better horse when 2nd to US Army Ranger.

Moonlight Magic emerged from the shadows with a decent performance in the Derrinstown yesterday and is a three quater brother to Sea The Stars, he looks Ireland's best chance.

There isn't a standout chance for Aiden O'Brien in my opinion. I feel that US Army Ranger has been talked up a lot but not really shown much to convince. Idaho, Beacon Rock and Shogun are basically racing themselves for place spots whilst being beaten by other horses.

Harzand was impressive in the Ballysax, but has won on heavy ground and will probably go for the Irish Derby. Tirmizi looked very promising at the start of the season but then didn't show much yesterday although he was still showing some condition, he could improve again.

Marcel could be a forgotten horse, he was originally seen as a Derby horse, but was then aimed at the Guineas where he finished last. He could be better over a longer trip.

Humphrey Bogart won the Lingfield trial in a bunch finish, but can anyone else see a horse that had only won a maiden and a 6 furlong sales race at Doncaster winning a Derby? Laughable. In that same race, Across The Stars caught my eye as a strong stayer and could run a good race at Epsom if he goes there.

To summarise, the Derby is a really tough race to pick a winner in this year. Thursday will tell us a lot more in the Dante Stakes at York, Midterm is the current favourite for the Derby and goes to York but I haven't seen the full lineup.

I did a few ante-post Derby bets before the Derrinstown yesterday, Tirmizi, Across The Stars and Port Douglas.

Says it all.

Cheers

I was really quite taken with Moonlight Magic yesterday. I don't believe he beat the upper echelon of Ballydoyle three-year-old's, but he traveled beautifully throughout and he showed a willing attitude late on. Of all the recent trial winners, he is the one I like the most.

It will, indeed, be interesting to see how Midterm gets on in the Dante this week. He, like the rest, still has a lot to prove.

I don't know if you can say that - for me, Taqdeer, Mustashry and Mulk are all top middle distance horses waiting to happen. I am not bias, trust me!

The Derby does look a little weak because we haven't seen the horses, we have nothing to go on. I really like Moonlight Magic and he landed my biggest bet ever yesterday, but I think Midterm could genuinely be anything and I'd be afraid.

A horse to look out for on Friday: New World Power.
Very nicely bred (Deep Impact [JPN] x Listen) and is highly thought of by Roger Varian. He's still entered in the Derby, but I doubt he'll make it to Epsom with only one run, unless it wins by 15 lengths. Could be a Royal Ascot horse though and is by the superstar Japanese horse Deep Impact out of a filly called Listen, who was pretty smart for Aiden O'Brien.

Also at Newbury, Frankel's first runner as a sire is set to race on Friday.

Love Deep Impact there is one at Ballydoyle too a 2YO but he's backwards at the moment
he out of peeping fawn think Deep Impact is a great sire. Looking forward to Frankels

I take it back, it is Massaat that I like the most for the Derby at the minute. I completely forgot about the 2,000 Guineas.

Think we just saw the Derby winner there... Can see it galloping home taking aim at the leader going into the Epsom dip. Hopefully Gosden supplements it.

At Newbury Today! Beautiful course!

Selections in the 2.10:
4- Mailshot
5- Medicine Jack
3- Global Applause

Selection for the 2.45 at Newbury:
5- Carnachy
1- Star Storm
4- Eagle Top

I hope you enjoyed your day, you were lucky with the weather, one of our 3 days a year without rain .
How did Newbury compare to American courses, I know the track would be strange with a 4 furlong straight (stretch), but how did the facilities compare.

I came across an interesting horse while surfing live streams of minor tracks. This was at Arapahoe Park in Colorado. The 5th race. The horse is Elmazeed. The track announcer said he sold at auction for 600k I think as a 2yo. He won his career debut for Kiaran Mclaughlin at Belmont by 5 lengths last May as a 4yo running 6 furlongs in 1:09.3. Then he went on the shelf. He sold this year at auction for only 1.5k. He shows up at lowly Arapahoe Park where he wins a couple of cheap allowance races including today's race. I would love to know what happened to this once highly thought of horse.

Edit - I found a brief story on him... http://www.drf.com/news/elmazeed-stand-colorado-after-selling-1500

Congratulations to Dermot Weld, a master trainer as proved with all the world-wide successes, who really deserves to have the Derby on his CV. No excuses in behind and be interesting to see how the horse handles quicker ground if indeed they risk him on it.
Looks an ideal arc horse as it's often soft there.

This past Saturday Frosted ran one of the greatest races I have ever seen. It was especially exhilarating for me as I have always maintained Frosted would become a top tier Grade 1 performer. Especially with Joel Rosario riding. He won by 14+ lengths in the historic and highly coveted Metropolitan Mile. Frosted earned a 123 Beyer Speed Figure which is rarified air in Beyer land. Ghostzapper knows about a certain horse who ran 120+ Beyers. In case you haven't seen the race please give it a look. A performance like this rarely occurs nowadays.

http://www.drf.com/news/frosted-turns-performance-remember-met-mile

I was just looking at the pictures and winning Beyer speed figures of this weekend's stakes winners when this picture caught my eye...

http://www.drf.com/slideshows/weekend-stakes-winners-july-1-4?photo=20-dearest%2C_azalea%2C_beyer

Great picture of a sleek racing machine. I looked her up on pedigree query and to my surprise she is a complete outcross...

http://www.pedigreequery.com/dearest15

At least 6 generations. I don't recall ever seeing another like this. I'm sure they're there. A lot of great names in her pedigree.