O’Brien’s mastery, big-spending Joorabchian: Derby contenders jostle for position

Football super-agent, Kia Joorabchian, has spent heavily on a foray into Flat racing and will hope for a return with his Derby hope, Tuscan Hills. Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

As a snapshot of the early state of play in the 2025 Flat season, the field for the Dante Stakes at York on Thursday, the last recognised trial for the Derby at Epsom on 7 June, promises to be pin-sharp. Aidan O’Brien will be hoping to complete an unprecedented clean sweep of the five major trials for the Derby at Epsom with the current ante-post favourite for the Classic, The Lion In Winter. Charlie Appleby, fresh from a double in the 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, has supplemented the unbeaten Alpine Trail.

Andrew Balding, the early leader in the trainers’ title race, has the current third-favourite, Royal Playwright, while football super-agent Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing operation, in its first season based at the famous Freemason Lodge yard in Newmarket, fields Tuscan Hills, an unbeaten grandson of an Oaks winner.