Memories of the legendary Lester Piggott will reverberate around Epsom on Saturday where the late jockey’s feat of nine Derby victories could be equalled by Aidan O’Brien.
The Irish trainer is triple-handed in racing’s ‘Blue Riband’ that he first won 21 years ago with Galileo.
Now, three of that horse’s sons – Stone Age, Changingoftheguard and Star Of India – could put O’Brien alongside Piggott on the highest rung of the Derby ladder.
The Irishman is alone at the top of English Classic history after a record 41st success was secured by Tuesday in Friday’s Oaks.
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The 13-2 shot got the best of a head-bob finish with the favourite Emily Upjohn to move O’Brien one clear of the 19th century English trainer John Scott in the cross-channel Classic roll of honour.
Ranged against O’Brien’s team in the biggest Derby field for five years are the favourite Desert Crown, as well as a trio from Ballydoyle’s great rivals, Godolphin.
Other Irish hopes will be carried by O’Brien’s son Donnacha, who will bid to become the youngest ever Derby-winning trainer through Frankie Dettori’s mount, Piz Badille.
Glory Daze, trained in Co Tyrone by Andy Oliver, is among the outsiders.
If it looks a notably open Derby it is also a singular one as it is the first time it will be run in honour of an individual.
Piggott, who died aged 86 last weekend, and was perhaps the most distinctive figure in racing history, will be remembered before a race he dominated like no other.
Black armbands will be worn by the jockeys and a minute’s silence will occur half an hour before the Classic which welcomes back full crowds to Epsom for the first time since 2019.
The Derby is due off at 4.30 and is live on ITV and Virgin One.
O’Brien has enjoyed unprecedented Derby dominance in the last decade with six wins.
Stone Age is Ballydoyle’s apparent No 1 this time with Ryan Moore on board. The colt beat Glory Daze by over five lengths in his last start at Leopardstown and is a clear second-favourite behind Desert Crown.
Both Changingoftheguard and Star Of India won their own trials at Chester last month and are drawn to the outside of the 17 runners.
The unbeaten Desert Crown, winner of the Dante Stakes, could give his trainer Michael Stoute a sixth win in the race.
Stoute first landed the Derby with Shergar 41 years ago and the 76-year-old will try to equal the legendary Vincent O’Brien’s tally in the race.
However, it will be just a second Derby ride for Desert Crown’s jockey, Richard Kingscote.
In the middle of Britain’s platinum jubilee celebrations, another runner, Royal Patronage, could attract coincidence bets.
However, 68 years after a teenage Piggott won his first Derby, the bittersweet scene may be set for his iconic tally in racing’s greatest prize to be emulated.
Aggressive riding tactics appear to have transformed Stone Age’s form in two starts this season.
After finally breaking his maiden by nine lengths at Navan in March, Stone Age subsequently impressed with a dominant display in Leopardstown’s Derby Trial.
The Dublin track’s other major trial, the Ballysax Stakes at the start of April, saw Piz Badile just get the verdict in a close finish with Buckaroo.
His regular rider Gavin Ryan has been replaced by Frankie Dettori, twice a Derby winner with Authorized (2007) and Golden Horn in 2015.
Dettori is the most experienced rider in the race but 23-year-old Donnacha O’Brien is having his first runner as a trainer.
O’Brien finished fourth as a jockey in the 2019 Derby behind the Séamus Heffernan-ridden Anthony Van Dyck. Heffernan is on Star Of India this time.
In a wide open Derby it could emerge that Ballydoyle’s Star Of India and the Godolphin second-string Walk Of Stars emerge as value betting options on a notably evocative occasion.
