Epsom Derby 2022: Star Of India Profile

Aidan O'Brien will have a strong team heading to the 2022 Cazoo Derby at Epsom on June 4, and one of his leading contenders is likely to be Star Of India, who was last seen winning at Chester...

Star Of India

Sire: Galileo

Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

Runs: 3

Wins: 2

Notable Race Wins: Dee Stakes

Once raced as a juvenile, Star Of India kicked off his career in October 2021, where he was a comfortable two-and-a-quarter length winner of a maiden contest at Leopardstown. Put away for his three-year-old campaign, Star Of India was unable to maintain his 100% record when he was well beaten in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket.

Handed the tough assignment of trying to down juvenile star Native Trail in the one-mile Group 3, Star Of India was unable to quicken like his Godolphin adversary, and ultimately the eight-furlong trip was too short for the son of Galileo. Eventually a well beaten fifth of six that day at Newmarket, it was always going to be Aidan O'Brien's plan to step him up in trip for his second start of 2022.

Sent to Chester's May Meeting for the 1m 2f Listed Dee Stakes, Star Of India was well fancied to recapture the winning thread, and he duly obliged on the Roodee, as he beat Cresta by two-and-a-quarter lengths. Doing all his best work in the closing stages under a confident Ryan Moore, Star Of India appeared to handle the tight turns of Chester with aplomb, which is sure to stand him in good stead for a crack at Epsom racecourse and The Derby, and he's likely to improve again.

Being a son of Galileo the step up to one-mile-and-a-half shouldn't pose any worries whatsoever, and while he may not be the first string of the O'Brien team with Stone Age likely to carry that accolade, Star Of India has shown a real element of class during his career, and he could well be a leading player in what is a wide open Derby this year.