Epsom, England // William Haggas won the Derby for Dubai businessman Khalifa Dasmal with Shaamit in 1996, and the Newmarket trainer bids to repeat the trick with his second Derby runner when Our Channel lines up here on Saturday.
Our Channel is owned by Abdulla Al Mansoori, who is the director of the corporate support department in Dubai and London for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Shaamit raced twice as a juvenile but did not have a prep race as a three year old prior to arriving at Epsom, where he easily held off Dushyantor, trained by Sir Henry Cecil and ridden by Pat Eddery.
It was a training masterstroke, and Haggas has not felt the need to enter another horse in the 2,400-metre event until now.
Our Channel is the only horse in the final field of 16 who has run competitively at this idiosyncratic course, although Kingston Hill and Western Hymn experienced Epsom’s contours thanks to a visit at last week’s Breakfast With The Stars event.
A sublime ride from Ryan Moore from the front in April ensured that the American-bred colt qualified for the Derby by winning the official Epsom trial, which has fallen in stature so much that trainer John Gosden last week openly questioned whether horses of Our Channel’s calibre should even be allowed to take part.
After the race, there was no hesitation as to where Our Channel would head next, and Bruce Raymond, Al Mansoori’s racing manager, does not believe his charge is there to make up the numbers.
“We know he handles the track – there’s no problem there – and we are hoping he gets the trip,” Raymond said.
“If we finish in the money, we will be absolutely delighted. I cannot see him beating Australia or Kingston Hill, but the fact he handles the track is a huge positive.
“I was second on outsider Blue Judge when I was a jockey and there were a few good ones behind me. It’s possible in the Derby, because horses who act on the track have a huge advantage. You might think a horse will act on it, but until you try, you never know.”
Due to the jockey merry-go-round that has taken place, Our Channel will be ridden by Silvestre De Sousa, who was displaced by Kieren Fallon on Godolphin's True Story.
De Sousa is too guarded regarding his position to discuss his feelings at losing his ride aboard True Story, just two months after he guided African Story to win the Dubai World Cup for trainer Saeed bin Suroor.
What grates him in private, however, is the insinuation that he cannot ride the contours of Epsom, where he boasts eight winners from 57 rides during the past five years.
Since it was announced that Simon Crisford had left Godolphin in February, there has been huge upheaval at the Dubai-based organisation, and jockey Mickael Barzalona was further marginalised on Thursday when James Doyle was given the ride on Pinzolo by Charlie Appleby.
Following yesterday’s declarations, Appleby’s other runner, Sudden Wonder, will be ridden by Kevin Manning. That means that Barzalona, who triumphed in the Derby with Pour Moi in 2011, will ride only Galizzi during the opening handicap at Epsom on Saturday.
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