Kentucky Derby Preview 2006

The 132nd running of the most popular race in the United States, the Kentucky Derby, otherwise known as the Run for the Roses, takes place at Churchill Downs on Saturday 6th May and Brother Derek deserves his place at the head of the market. It was hard not to be impressed with the way the Dan Hendricks-trained colt blitzed his rivals from the front in the Santa Anita Derby on April 8. Flying out of the stalls and, despite taking a bit of a tug in front, the son of Benchmark never looked in any danger and, having steadied the pace down the back, jockey Alex Solis, who has finished second in the Kentucky Derby on three occasions, never had a moments worry in the home straight as Brother Derek coasted to a three and a quarter length victory, looking value for at least five times that winning margin. It's not easy to oppose Brother Derek, who is owned by Canadian oilman Cecil Peacock but he will not get his own way out in front on May 6 and, at a top-priced 7/2, I reckon it's worth looking elsewhere for the value, and Lawyer Ron, a 7/1 chance with bet365, and Sweetnorthernsaint, who is available at 10/1 with Stan James, rate the best alternatives. The progress Lawyer Ron has been making recently has propelled him into second favouritism for this race, the first leg of the American Triple Crown. Bob Holthus' charge is bound to be a popular choice on Derby day given his trainers popularity in the area and, moreover, following his sixth successive victory when cruising home in the Grade II $1million Arkansas Derby last time, completing a clean-sweep of Oaklawn Park's Derby prep races. Under John McKee, the son of Langfuhr was always travelling well in the leaders' slipstream and, approaching the far turn, Lawyer Ron seized an opening, carrying McKee to the lead probably earlier than he would have wanted, and never looking likely to be challenged in the straight, running out a thoroughly convincing two and three quarter length winner from Steppenwolfer, with Private Vow back in third. Sweetnorthernsaint, meanwhile, is another going the right way and, although his rise through the ranks hasn't been as meteoric as Lawyer Ron's, he has plenty of scope for improvement and rates a solid each-way bet in this ten furlong contest. Trained in Maryland by Michael Trombetta, the Sweetsouthernsaint colt really impressed me when taking the Illinois Derby at the Hawthorne Racecourse in some style last time out. Settled in second, a length off the lead of longshot Mister Triester in the early stages, jockey Kent Desormeaux gave Sweetnorthernsaint the office at the top of the home stretch and, after taking a few strides to hit top gear, his mount accelerated in the style of a top-class colt, eventually pulling nine and a quarter lengths of Mister Triester with Cause To Believe third. With the promise of further improvement, it's hard to not envisage Sweetnorthernsaint coming firmly into the equation in Louisville. Jazil, who is owned by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, finished like a train when overhauling Keyed Time for second place behind Bob And John in the Wood Memorial, shaping as though he was going the right way and looks a lively outsider. Hamdan's relation, Sheikh Mohammed, has a burning desire to win this race and his Godolphin operation rely on the unbeaten Discreet Cat this year. The Forestry colt easily landed the UAE Derby in Dubai by six lengths in March and, having had just three career starts, is open to plenty of improvement. However, experience is crucial in a race like the Kentucky Derby and while it would be folly to underestimate him, I feel that others have far stronger claims.