Horses can make asses of us all

It was a moment that neatly framed the compelling quirkiness and unpredictability of horse racing.

The Derby at Epsom in the UK last weekend boasted three contenders from the Godolphin stables of the sheiks of Dubai, making it 33 runners they've fielded in the great English classic so far - for zero victories.

These guys don't only provide hospitality for shady characters from the colonic-end of Africa, they also embrace horses' butts in more fragrant parts of the world, buying up promising young thoroughbreds with gusto in hopes of winning top races.

But the Derby has eluded the Arabs - as has that infernal Kentucky Derby in the US.

Adding insult to injury, an Epsom Derby trophy now sits proudly on the mantelpiece of one Padraig Beggy. Who?

You might well ask. Even seasoned punters were puzzled when the unknown Irishman steered a 40-1 shot, Wings Of Eagles, to glory on Saturday.

Beggy couldn't cut it as a jockey in Ireland a few years ago. He went to Australia, hoping for a break. Instead he was bust for snorting cocaine. Then he got argumentative and really peed-off the Bruces, who threw the book at him, banning him from riding for 15 months.

Slinking back to the Emerald Isle, he finally got lucky, scoring a lowly exercise riding job for champion trainer Aidan O'Brien.

Eventually he rode a few winners out in the sticks - and impressed O'Brien enough to chuck him a bone in the form of a mount aboard one of the yard's 2017 Derby no-hopers.

Wings Of Eagles, bearing Padraig, swooped from the skies to pip O'Brien's favourite runner, Cliffs Of Moher, on the line and cause the biggest Derby upset in decades.

Godolphin were also-rans.

The Dubaian sheiks do have the consolation of a couple of Durban July wins, with Bold Silvano and Igugu, and stand a lively chance of another this year, with current second-favourite Al Sahem.

Trainer Sean Tarry's charge will definitely be in the Durban July field, along with a handful of other horses. But about a quarter of the 18 places in the final lineup for the R4.25-million showpiece are still up for grabs.

More than a dozen aspirants clash in feature races this weekend to decide who makes the cut.

The Cup Trial at Greyville tomorrow is the biggest showdown, with all of Black Arthur, Elusive Silva, Master Switch, Nebula, Trophy Wife and Royal Badge scrabbling to crack the nod.

Other July entrants needing good showings at the weekend include Saratoga Dancer, Nightingale, Liege and Silver Mountain.

The topliner is the Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m, with the likely favourite Marinaresco, whose July spot is sealed. The Candice Bass-Robinson four-year-old loves the Greyville course, but he bumps into some pacey characters here and they could get the drop on him down the short straight.

Janoobi will probably lead the charge and has the gumption to keep rolling when challenges come. Those lungers will include sprinter Trip To Heaven, along with fast finishers like Victorious Jay, New Predator, French Navy and Captain America.

It's an intriguing face-off between sheer speed and turn-of-foot. At least there are no strange Irishmen to complicate matters.