Will O’Brien include Father of Science in his Investec Derby Raiding Party?

22nd May, 2012 - Posted by Elliot Slater - Comments Off

The outstanding racehorse trainer, Aidan O’Brien, has never been frightened of fielding a handful of horses in major races and, often, his second or even third string choice has landed the spoils in major contests, writes Elliot Slater.

Already, this term, the Ballydoyle handler has sent out 25/1 shot, Homecoming Queen, to make all the running, and land the Qipco 1000 Guineas, while her far more strongly fancied stable companion, Maybe, was left toiling in her wake.

The quietly spoken Irishman did it again, a few days later, when his odds-on St Nicholas Abbey went down to his unconsidered 66/1 stable companion, Windsor Palace, in the Group 3 Mooresbridge Stakes.

So, although all eyes are on the odds-on 2000 Guineas winner, Camelot, who appears one of the best of an outstanding line of horses to represent the Coolmore investors syndicate, in recent years, O’Brien’s Father of Science, a half-brother to the yard’s 2002 Epsom Derby and dual Breeders’ Cup hero, High Chaparral, should not be ruled out lightly.

Currently offered at odds of up to 50/1 to land the blue riband mile-and-a-half classic, on June 2, the son of Galileo had only two career outings, finishing fifth to Karatash in a Navan maiden, at the end of April.

Looking as though the experience would do him good, he then put that limited experience to very good use, when storming home by nearly three lengths in the Chester 10-furlong maiden, a race that that has been won by the likes of subsequent Group 1 winners, Harbinger and Mountain High, in recent years.

Well regarded at home and seemingly on a steep upward curve, it would come as no surprise to see Father of Science belie his current market odds and finish in the first three at Epsom. For more information on the race, please visit http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/epsom-derby-and-oaks/.

Begin your preparations for upcoming races by heading over to the Royal Ascot betting website.