The first Saturday in June signals the latest edition of the race they all want to win, as the historic Epsom racecourse hosts the 2024 edition of The Derby. Such is the importance of the 1m4f colt’s Classic that, for many of the leading yards, all plans work backwards from Epsom.
As in all sports, some competitors are more likely to achieve their share of the £1.5m in prize money and attached multi-million stud career due to the wealth of resources at their disposal. Included in the “most likely” category are the boys in blue of Godolphin. Whilst not quite the force of Ballydoyle – at least not in the Epsom Classics – the Maktoum family-backed operation, led by number one trainer Charlie Appleby, has picked up two of the past six Epsom Derby’s courtesy of Masar (2018) and Adayar (2021).
With a host of impressive juvenile performers in their ranks, 2024 appeared to present Godolphin with a golden opportunity to add to that tally – particularly following the complete no-show of Aidan O’Brien’s long-time ante-post favourite, City Of Troy in the 2,000 Guineas. However, in a fine example of the volatility of the racing game, the hopes of a Godolphin Derby winner this year, whilst not quite vanquished, appear to be hanging by a thread. Here, we look back at the unfortunate (and, in one case, tragic) events which led to this scenario.
Hidden Law Breaks Down at Chester
Sired by Dubawi and out of a Galileo mare, the regally-bred Hidden Law wasn’t the most highly touted Godolphin Derby challenger headed into the current season. However, the primary reason for that was that the racing public didn’t know anything about him, with the good-looking bay only making his racecourse debut in March 2024. That’s a late start for a runner from this yard but mirrored the approach taken with Notable Speech, who went on to land the 2024 2,000 Guineas in fine style.
It is impossible to say whether Notable Speech would have followed a similar trajectory, but he had certainly made a promising start. Showing immense promise when a fast finishing second on debut at Southwell, he duly stepped up on that to land a Newbury Maiden in emphatic style. Next stop, the Group 3 Chester Vase at the Chester May meeting – a race taken in by subsequent Derby winners Wings of Eagles and Ruler of the World in recent years. Switched to the outside in the straight, Hidden Law produced an electric finishing burst to forge three lengths clear of a field containing two Galileo colts from the Aidan O’Brien operation – looking every inch a leading Derby contender.
Sadly, the celebrations weren’t even given a chance to begin. Mere seconds after crossing the winning line, Hidden Law took a false step and suffered a fatal fracture. A desperate loss for Charlie Appleby and all associated with the horse.
Arabian Crown Ruled Out
Unlike Hidden Law. The racing world knew all about Arabian Crown before 2024 thanks to the colt’s exhilarating juvenile displays. Also by Dubawi and out of a mare who twice won Listed 1m4f events, this strapping sort hurtled to the top of the Godolphin pecking order in 2023.
In common with his ill-fated stablemate, Arabian Crown went into many notebooks when rattling home for a debut third at Sandown before easily landing a maiden event at the same track. Stepping up to a mile and into Listed company, the colt looked even better before rounding off his campaign with an all-the-way blitz of the field in the Group 3 Zetland Stakes at Newmarket.
Fast forward to 2024, and racing fans were eager to see how well this impressive specimen had trained on over the winter. They received their answer in the bet365 Classic Trial back at Sandown. Again employing a catch-me-if-you-can strategy, Arabian Crown bounded into the lead and didn’t see another rival on his way to a comfortable win. Next stop, Epsom, with the colt sitting as the clear second favourite in most Derby betting lists.
Or at least that was the plan. Thankfully, Arabian Crown will be back to fight another day, but he will miss his main target for the season following a minor injury at home.
Ancient Wisdom Beaten in Dante
Two such blows would be enough to spell the end of a Derby challenge for most yards. However, Godolphin is no ordinary operation and boasts a conveyor belt of talent of which others can only dream. Despite the absence of Hidden Law and Arabian Crown, Charlie Appleby still had high hopes for another of his impressive juvenile stars – Ancient Wisdom.
By Dubawi and out of a Group 3 winning Dalakhani mare, Ancient Wisdom was another Godolphin inmate with a stellar breeding page and promptly set about delivering on that potential at the track. Immediately off the mark at Haydock, he followed up at Newmarket before finishing behind subsequent Group 1 winner Rosallion in a hot renewal of Ascot’s Pat Eddery Stakes.
Any thoughts that defeat had burst Ancient Wisdom’s bubble were swiftly dismissed, with the colt going on to impressive wins in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes and the Group 1 Kameko Futurity Trophy at Doncaster.
With that form in the book, it was no surprise to see Ancient Wisdom start as the 7/4F for the Dante Stakes – a race respected as the most influential trial ahead of the Epsom Classic. Had Ancient Wisdom delivered, he would likely have been into a single-figure price for Epsom. Unfortunately, he was firmly put in his place on the day by the William Haggas-trained Ecomonics, who roared to a six-length success. Having been beaten so convincingly in a trial, can Ancient Wisdom bounce back on the big day?
All Hope Not Lost
Ancient Wisdom is now the last horse standing for Godolphin in the Derby but remains fourth best in the betting at a general 12/1. Whilst that York effort underwhelmed, it is too early to right him off.
One major factor in his favour is that Economics is deemed an unsuitable type for Epsom by William Haggas and is highly unlikely to turn up. It is also worth noting that Ancient Wisdom’s best form has come on soft ground, and the horse looked like an out-and-out stayer when running on for second in the Dante. If the rain arrives at Epsom, his chance may increase significantly.
Finally, if his price remains the same, Ancient Wisdom would actually rate a more likely winner than Godolphin’s two previous Derby wins – Masar having won at 16/1 in 2017 and Adayar defying the same odds in 2021.