Full field expected for Kempton Derby Challenge

Officials at Kempton racecourse expect the inaugural Kentucky Derby Challenge

S. on March 18 to be oversubscribed following commitments from some of the

leading trainers in Britain and Ireland. With Aidan O'Brien and John Gosden

targeting the nine-furlong Polytrack contest that guarantees the winner a spot

in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and a £100,000 bonus if they make the line-up on the

first Saturday in May, the track's Director of Racing Brian Clifford is thinking

about the possibility of having to use the ballot.

"Initially, trainers have really embraced the contest," Clifford said. "We

had been thinking about November for the race, but Aidan, John and others said

if we make it in March, they will be able to get their better horses ready. John

Gosden has four possibilities and hopes to run two, Paul Cole could run two; we

hope Aidan may send us two across from Ireland and Richard Hannon is interested.

We may not even have the space for all of them in the field of 14."

Ballydoyle could be represented by the Gworan Park maiden winner BORN TO BE

KING (Storm Cat), Leopardstown debut scorer CHIEF LONE EAGLE (Giant's Causeway)

and Dundalk maiden winner GREAT WISDOM (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]).

Gosden can choose from his quartet of Triple Crown entries. They are the

Sheikh Hamdan-owned maiden winners NAWAADI (El Corredor) and MAFAAZ (Medicean),

Khalid Abdullah's Great Leighs scorer CLOSE ALLIANCE (Gone West) and Princess

Haya of Jordan's RED SPIDER (Red Ransom), who was last seen finishing ninth in

the Racing Post Trophy (Eng-G1).

"The initiative provides European horses with a wildcard like the Super Bowl

and will only improve international competition," Gosden commented on Tuesday.

John Best is hoping to saddle the Breeders' Futurity (G1) fourth-placer

DEPOSER (Ire) (Kheleyf). Gerard Butler has the race in mind for the filly

PACHATTACK (Pulpit), who was third in Newmarket's Oh So Sharp S. (Eng-G3) in

October.