Royal Lodge, Beresford usher in European Road to Kentucky Derby
Sep 23, 2021
The first two scoring opportunities on the European Road to the Kentucky Derby will come in rapid succession on Saturday. The Royal Lodge (G2) at Newmarket goes off at 8:50 a.m., followed by the Beresford (G2) at the Curragh at 9:30 a.m. (all times ET). Both one-mile turf tests offer points on the 10-4-2-1 scale to the top four finishers.
Royal Lodge
Masekela boasts the best form in the Royal Lodge, which is also a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). The Andrew Balding trainee missed narrowly in the Superlative (G2) two starts back to Native Trail, who since came back to win the Vincent O’Brien National (G1) handily. Masekela likewise scored in his ensuing start in the Denford S. at Newbury, edging Bayside Boy, the next-out winner of the Champagne (G2).
Yet Masekela will have to deal with a fascinating stakes newcomer in Godolphin’s Coroebus. Trained by Charlie Appleby, who just swept four North American majors last weekend, the well-bred juvenile made a fine impression in scoring his career debut at this trip. Coroebus is by Dubawi and out of First Victory, a Group 3-winning half-sister to multiple Group 1 star Thunder Snow.
Royal Patronage has won two straight since finishing second to the aforementioned Native Trail in a Sandown maiden. After breaking through at Epsom, Royal Patronage scored a 25-1 upset of the Acomb (G3) at York for prolific horseman Mark Johnston.
Aidan O’Brien dispatches Howth, who adds blinkers off a fourth in the Champions Juvenile (G2) during Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown. Son Donnacha O’Brien is represented by Unconquerable, last seen finishing third in the July 22 Tyros (G3).
Oneforthegutter comes off a fast-finishing near-miss in the Prix Francois Boutin (G3), an about seven-furlong contest at Deauville, suggesting he could improve on the step up in distance. Seattle King, most recently fourth to Masekela at Newbury, dons a visor here.
Beresford
Aidan O’Brien has won 10 straight runnings – and an incredible 20 Beresfords overall in his career. The master of Ballydoyle has another hot favorite to extend his streak in Luxembourg. The son of triple European classic winner Camelot won handsomely in his lone outing at Killarney in July.
Joseph O’Brien, already known for upstaging his father, has a chance to do so again with Swan Bay. A Galway maiden romper last out, Swan Bay is a son of 2014 Epsom/Irish Derby (G1) hero Australia, who was trained by Aidan and ridden by Joseph. Another O’Brien entrant, Donnacha’s Piz Badile, has been scratched.
Jim Bolger relies on the most experienced runner in the field, Manu et Corde. By Bolger’s unbeaten champion two-year-old Teofilo, Manu et Corde was a close fifth in the Champions Juvenile in his latest.
Tuwaiq hails from the red-hot yard of Ger Lyons, but has settled for minor awards in his past three, including a second to Luxembourg. Although Chicago Soldier has yet to break his maiden, the well-bred son of Declaration of War is trained by the crafty Johnny Murtagh.
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