Tabor dreams of Bandini raid success in Kentucky

Owner Michael Tabor will be hoping Bandini can cap a memorable eight days by taking the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs tomorrow night.

Footstepsinthesand and Virginia Waters, owned in partnership by Tabor and Sue Magnier, landed the 2000 and 1000 Guineas at Newmarket last weekend and Bandini is well fancied for the first leg of the American Triple Crown.

The Fusaichi Pegasus colt made a favourable impression when stepped up in class by trainer Todd Pletcher to land the Grade One Blue Grass Stakes by six lengths at Keeneland last time.

Bandini will be starting from a wide draw after Tabor opted to take stall 15 at the draw ceremony, which is the first box in the second set of stalls.

“We wanted to be toward the outside, and five out of the last 10 winners have come from the auxiliary gate,” Pletcher told www.bloodhorse.com.

“We wanted to stay clear of the inside traffic. Plus, if there’s a scratch you go to 14 and you’re in the same position (in an end stall).”

Bandini is a 4-1 chance with Coral for the "run for the roses" and he will start next to hot favourite Bellamy Road, who is in stall 16.

The Concerto colt, one of five runners for trainer Nick Zito, annihilated a good field in the Grade One Wood Memorial at Aqueduct last time, coming home 17 and a half lengths clear of Survivalist.

Zito’s other four runners are Andromeda’s Hero, Noble Causeway, High Fly and Sun King, while Pletcher also has Coin Silver and Flower Alley.

Ex-British runner Wilko represents trainer Craig Dollase as he tries to follow up on his Breeders’ Cup Juvenile win of last season while in the care of Jeremy Noseda.

Afleet Alex, second in that race, will try to go one better for trainer Tim Ritchey.

The progressive Greeley’s Galaxy will have his supporters in the 20-runner race after taking the Illinois Derby last time, while three-time race winner Bob Baffert relies on Sort It Out.