Kentucky Derby 2019 Radar: Godolphin fancies Royal Marine

While Godolphin didn’t prevail in last weekend’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the undercard may have signaled the massive racing and breeding operation’s next hope of a Kentucky Derby contender.

In the United States to oversee training for Breeders’ Cup Classic contender Thunder Snow, Tommy Burns, who works as trainer Saeed bin Suroor’s assistant and traveling manager, said Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Royal Marine has the UAE Derby (G2) as a long-term target.

The race’s purse of $2.5 million will make it the richest “derby” in the world next year. Of course, it also carries enough qualifying points to guarantee at least one and possibly two 2019 Kentucky Derby starters.

Royal Marine battled Broome to the wire at Longchamp, looking much the best by winning under little urging from jockey Oisin Murphy. The Group 1 victory came at a mile just one start after Royal Marine broke his maiden in a seven-furlong stakes at England’s Doncaster.

“He’s a big, strong horse who works well at home,” bin Suroor said afterward. “He showed some class there and travelled well the whole way.

"We’ll take him to Dubai now and he could start off there next season. He could be anything.”

For now, he’s certainly one to watch, with a UAE Derby prep known as the UAE Two Thousand Guineas a key race for him to make in February.

A son of Raven’s Pass, Royal Marine is his sire’s first Grade or Group 1 winner. Dirt may be a question, but the colt’s stride appears long, and Raven’s Pass has sired many winners at distance beyond a mile.

Checking the Derby Radar boxes for Royal Marine:

 Broke maiden on major circuit (Not, at least, when it comes to Derby starters...)

Connections with Derby experience

Sire known for two-turn runners (The bigger question will be turf to dirt.)