Who can stop Camelot? Bonfire might

Saturday 2 June 2012

THE DUEL Ballydoyle stable star is the one to beat but Balding horse has the right credentials

Andrew Balding's Bonfire . . .

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White and Gold

Bonfire is capable of upsetting Camelot's hopes of a Classic double by taking the honours in the Investec Derby at Epsom. Aidan O'Brien's Camelot is bidding to replicate the success of Sea The Stars three years ago by adding the Derby to his earlier victory in the 2000 Guineas.

However, Andrew Balding's Bonfire can spoil the party and help his trainer emulate his father Ian, who famously sent out the great Mill Reef to victory in 1971. Bonfire certainly has something to find on the bare figures with Camelot, but this will be just his fourth career start here and he remains on an upward trajectory.Winner of a Salisbury maiden last September, Bonfire inspired enough confidence to justify stepping him up to Group One level the next time. He looked better than the bare form his third- placed finish suggested.Soft ground forced Balding to miss an intended debut at Chester this term, but being forced to wait for better ground in the Dante at York worked out well as Bonfire excelled on the Knavesmire. He battled it with the race-fit Ektihaam that day and, while Bonfire appeared to have to pull out all the stops, he was well in control at the line. He has his quirks, but they do not affect him unduly in races."He seems to have come out of the race very well," said Balding, who also saddles 100-1 outsider Minimise Risk. "We had a big meeting at the beginning of the year with the owners, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, and sat down to talk with Harry Herbert and John Warren about the best way to progress to June. For everyone who trains racehorses, this is the race. It is a big occasion."Of course, there must be some doubts about his pedigree as his sire, Manduro, showed his best up to 10 furlongs, but he was also good enough to win the Prix Foy over a mile and a half and his sire, Monsun, was certainly not lacking for stamina.The strength of Bonfire has certainly been enough to concern O'Brien ahead of the race. Cameolot – who will be ridden by O'Brien's son, Joseph – is the favourite, but his trainer is taking nothing for granted. His focus is steeled by the fact he has only managed to saddle two winners of the world's most famous Flat race, Galileo in 2001 and High Chaparral 12 months later."We are under no illusions with the Derby. We had two very special horses in High Chaparral and Galileo and have not won it since," said O'Brien. "The race is a very difficult test of a horse. There cannot be any chink in their armour and everything has to go right on the day."Main Sequence is also expected to pose a threat at Epsom. The unbeaten three-year-old is trained by David Lanigan, who witnessed Classic success when an assistant to legendary trainer Sir Henry Cecil. "We wanted to go to Chester with him for the Dee Stakes, but the ground was too soft," said Lanigan. "He's gradually gone up the steps and done everything we wanted. We've always thought a bit of him."There will be more modest targets for the likes of the John Gosden-trained Thought Worthy, and Rugged Cross from the Henry Candy stable. The pair were first and third respectively at Newmarket last month."It's a tough race, but hopefully he can acquit himself well," said Dane O'Neill, rider of Rugged Cross.

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Who can stop Camelot? Bonfire might

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