Venegazzu Team to Enjoy ’15 Minutes of Fame’

27th May, 2012 - Posted by Elliot Slater - Comments Off

It is the dream of every racehorse owner to have a runner in the Investec Derby, a dream that very few ever come close to achieving. The connections of the Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained, Venegazzu, will have few illusions about the prospects of their horse, but can be assured an experience that will live long in the memory, writes Elliot Slater.

Venegazzu is currently the rank outsider of the field for the great mile-and-a-half Group 1 contest scheduled for Epsom, on June 2, being freely available at 200/1 with most betting firms, and a great deal bigger on the exchanges.

It would be a major shock if the son of Dubawi finished nearer first than last in the race currently dominated by the presence of the odds-on favourite and 2000 Guineas winner, Camelot.

However, it should not be forgotten that Clive Brittain sent out the 500/1 shot, Terimon, to stun form pundits, by finishing a tremendous runner-up to the mighty Nashwan in the 1989 Derby, proving that on the big day just about anything can happen.

Although he is very well bred, being by a high-class Darley stallion out of the Irish Oaks winner, Vintage Tipple, Venegazzu has so far failed to suggest that he has inherited much of the ability of either parent, so far.

His best effort from three career starts was a respectable seven-length third, behind the decent Encke in a Newmarket maiden, in October.

He had shown a modicum of promise on his previous outing, when making his racecourse bow at Doncaster, in finishing ninth to Perennial, (a possible Derby contender himself, currently priced at 66/1 on betting.betfair.com), but showed nothing on his only outing, this term, when eighth of the nine-runner field in an 11-furlong maiden contest at Newbury, last month.

Regardless of where he finishes, Venegazzu, will certainly give connections a day to remember, and will doubtless face easier tasks, once tackling handicap company, later in the term.

Pay attention to http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/ for the best odds and gambling tips for upcoming race days.