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Huge entry for 2011 Derby16th December 2009
The 2011 running of the Epsom Derby has received 444 entries at the yearling stage - an increase of 56 on the 2010 entry of 388.
The race will be worth £1.25m and as expected has attracted some well-bred yearlings that could be stars of the future.
Lady Bamford, who owned and bred the 2009 Oaks heroine Sariska, has two entries, including a half-brother to Sariska by Cape Cross, the sire of the 2009 Derby winner Sea The Stars.
Set to join Sariska at Michael Bell's yard in Newmarket, the colt is currently in pre-training.
"Sariska's half-brother is unnamed at the moment and is currently down at Malcolm Bastard's," said Hugo Lascelles, racing adviser to Lady Bamford.
"Obviously, it's early days, but he is a really, really nice sort. He has been broken in and ridden away. He looks a really good mover and is something to look forward to."
Owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, who landed the Derby with Nashwan (1989) and Erhaab (1994), has entered 43 yearlings for 2011 - the highest number of entrants for any individual owner.
Among Sheikh Hamdan's contingent is a $650,000 purchase from the Keeneland September Sale, a Dynaformer colt out of Curriculum.
Sheikh Mohammed has 40 entries including the $2.8 million Saratoga August Sale purchase On A Storm, a colt by Storm Cat out of Onaga and the highest-priced yearling sold in the Northern Hemisphere during 2009.
The Maktoum family's global racing operation, Godolphin, has 32 entries, including a Storm Cat half-brother to Electrocutionist, who topped the Deauville August Sale at €900,000.
When added together, the combined total of entries for the Coolmore team of owners Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith is 65.
Among those currently registered to Derrick Smith is an Oasis Dream colt out of Maganda, who topped the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale at 700,000 guineas, while among the Tabor-owned entries are a 550,000gns Galileo colt out of Tadkiyra and a Montjeu colt out of Welsh Love, who topped the Goffs Orby Sale at 420,000gns.
The Aga Khan has won the race four times and has 26 initial entries, split between French handler Alain de Royer-Dupre and John Oxx, who was responsible for Sea The Stars.
Ouija Board's first progeny, a Kingmambo colt named Voodoo Prince, is entered by Lord Derby.
For any horse not entered at the yearling stage, connections have the opportunity to enter as a three-year-old for £8,000. That second entry stage closes on Tuesday, April 5, 2011.
Sheikh Mohammed has 40 entries for the 2011 Epsom Derby