Benvenuto Cellini goes on Derby trial at Chester
Benvenuto Cellini can stamp his own ticket to the Epsom Derby. File Pic: Healy Racing
Benvenuto Cellini puts his Derby aspirations to the test in the Boodles Chester Vase Stakes on the Roodee.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has a fine record in this event, winning it a record 11 times and 12 months ago he saddled Lambourn before he marched on to Classic glory at Epsom.
Now hopes are high this son of Frankel can stamp his own ticket to the Derby, as Ryan Moore gets acquainted for the first time with the impressive Leopardstown Group Two winner, who ended his season an honourable third on heavy ground in the Futurity at Doncaster.
O’Brien said: “Ryan was going to ride him in Epsom (in the Blue Riband Trial), but when it got put back a week we decided we would go to Chester instead.
“He’s done very well, we’re very happy with him. It will be a nice learning experience for him and Ryan will get to see him and ride him and see what he’s like.” Benvenuto Cellini will be joined by stablemate Proposition, with further Irish representation provided by Jessica Harrington’s Mr Vettori.
John and Thady Gosden’s Water To Wine was supposed to provide stiff opposition to the favourite but was found to be running a temperature on Tuesday afternoon.
Charlie Appleby won this in 2024 and this time around he saddles Del Maro, who signed off his two-year-old season by finishing third to O’Brien’s Derby hopeful Pierre Bonnard in the Zetland Stakes and made a pleasing winning return at Yarmouth last month.
Appleby told www.godolphin.com: “We are looking forward to stepping Del Maro up in trip and feel that the track at Chester might suit.
“We need to step forward if we are to trouble Benvenuto Cellini, but our horse goes there fit and well, while this distance should hopefully see some improvement.” Richard and Peter Fahey’s Mr Colonel completes a field of five with Andrew Balding’s Royal Standard another non-runner.
Meanwhile, Betfred Oaks favourite I’m The One will follow the Enable route to Epsom as she bids to build on her impressive Newbury debut in Wednesday’s Weatherbys Cheshire Oaks.
John and Thady Gosden’s daughter of Sea The Stars is as short as 5-2 favourite for Classic honours at Epsom after wowing on her racecourse bow last month.
It was a performance that had some whispering the name of Clarehaven’s great 11-time Group One winner Enable in comparison and while I’m The One still has to prove herself worthy of that accolade, she is given first chance in the Listed race in which Enable dazzled in 2017.
“She’s been pleasing us since Newbury,” said Thady Gosden.
“That was only her first run, but we do think she will improve for that. She was still learning when she hit the front there so you’d expect her to be sharper and wiser for that experience.” Like in 2017, and as is typical at Chester, it is Aidan O’Brien who presents stiff opposition, with a two-strong hand led by Amelia Earhart.
Amelia Earhart is joined in the line-up by Group Three winner Sugar Island, but it is the daughter of Camelot that has the services of Ryan Moore and is one always held in the highest regard by the Ballydoyle team.
“It could be a really nice race against some good opposition and we’re looking forward to it,” said O’Brien.
“We always thought we might start at Chester with Amelia and hopefully go to Epsom after that. She’s a big, powerful filly and we’re looking forward to seeing her.”
The line-up is completed by Andrew Balding’s Winged One and Ralph Beckett’s A La Prochaine, a taking winner at Newbury in October and who sports the colours of Wathnan Racing.
