Start to the Derby Festival with Tünnes

Epsom, Friday, 2 June: The Derby Festival at Epsom starts today with a seven-race programme. First highlight is the Coronation Cup (3rd race/16.10/445,000 pounds/2420m), in which Peter Schiergen`s Tünnes (Rene Piechulek) will start as an outsider. The Group 1 winner and Japan Cup ninth-placed Westover (Rob Hornby), who finished a strong second in the Dubai Sheema Classic (Group 1), faces him. Emily Upjohn (Frankie Dettori), Hurricane Lane (William Buick) and Point Lonsdale (Ryan Moore) are other quality opponents who could take the win at any time.


Eleven fillies are competing in the English Oaks (5th race/5.30pm/550,000 pounds/2420m) to succeed Tuesday from the stable of Aidan O`Brien, who has won the fixture for the last three years and is now reaching for the classic once again with Savethelastdance (Ryan Moore). Be Happy (Seamie Heffernan) and Red Riding Hood (Wayne Lordan) provide support for the mare, who last won at Chester at Listed level. The two fiercest rivals saddle John and Thady Gosden. Soul Sister (Frankie Dettori) and Running Lion (Oisin Murphy) showed their mettle when winning the Musidora Stakes (Group 3) and Pretty Polly Stakes (Listed) respectively. Eternal Hope (William Buick) from the Godolphin quarter of Charlie Appleby brings a success from Lingfield over Be Happy.