Long referred to as the “Sport of Kings”, British horse racing maintains an association with the elite in the modern era. In some ways, it is a reputation that racing’s organisers are keen to shake as they aim to attract newcomers to the sport. On the other hand, it is easy to wonder what state the sport would be in without the support of the mega-rich owners.
Happily, there is room for everyone at the racing table – from the billionaires who plough fortunes into the sport to the syndicates which provide shares in a horse for a small fee. The 2025 edition of the biggest race of the flat racing year provides a fine example of the variety of owners within the sport. The big guns are, of course, well represented in this year’s Derby field, but so too are several smaller owners aiming to topple the giants on the biggest stage of all.
The Giants
For the leading owners/breeders, success in the major Group 1 events is a significant factor in the continuing prosperity of their business. When it comes to future breeding revenue and the production of the stars of tomorrow, there is no race bigger than the Derby. It is no surprise then, that a selection of the most recognisable silks in the game pepper the 2025 Derby field.
Coolmore
Mr and Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith are the key players in this racing juggernaut. The order in which the names are listed, and the racing silks vary, but the operation behind Aidan O’Brien’s Group 1 winning spree has achieved immense success on the global stage. Already in possession of 11 Epsom Derby trophies, Coolmore are going all out to make it a dozen in 2025.
Delacroix tops the market following his Leopardstown Derby Trial success, while Lambourn picked up an impressive trial win of his own in the Chester Vase. And don’t forget about The Lion In Winter, who may have disappointed in the Dante Stakes, but was the name on everyone’s lips at the end of 2024.
Godolphin
This Maktoum family-backed outfit is the biggest challenger to Coolmore’s dominance and, for a season here and there, has gotten the better of their Irish rivals. Finally getting over their Epsom Derby hump with Masar in 2018, the boys in blue savoured further success with Adayar in 2021.
The 2000 Guineas hero Ruling Court leads the Godolphin charge in 2025, with trainer Charlie Appleby optimistic that the step up to 1m4f will prove no obstacle to this high-class individual. Hailing from the yard of former Godolphin number one, Saeed bin Suroor, Tornado Alert lacks the credentials of his owner-mate but finished a fine fourth in the Guineas on only his third career start.
Juddmonte
The brainchild of Khalid Abdullah, the green, pink, and white silks of Juddmonte Farms continue to frequent Group 1 Winner’s Enclosures four years after the death of their founder. The man who gave the sport the mighty Frankel grabbed Derby gold three times during his lifetime, but Juddmonte has yet to land the prize since his death. Perhaps 2025 could be the year.
When compared to the leading Coolmore and Ballydoyle players, Nightwalker and New Ground need to improve upon what they have shown of late. However, Nightwalker appeared to take a significant step forward when fifth in the Dante, and French raider New Ground should be amongst those most suited to conditions if the forecast rains arrive.
Aga Khan Studs
A glance through this Saturday’s Epsom card reveals that the main event is officially titled the Betfred Derby (In Honour Of His Highness Aga Khan IV). As such, there could be no more fitting winner than the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Midak. Unbeaten in three outings in his homeland, he was barely extended to claim a Group 3 last time out and looks well worth his place in the lineup.
Smaller Owners Dreaming Big
Such is their generosity to the sport that few would begrudge any of the above another Derby success. However, there is always something appealing about the prospect of a smaller owner toppling the millionaires of the racing world. The 2025 field is stacked with such possibilities.
Ahmad Al Sheikh
We suspect Ahmad isn’t short of a bob or two, but his racing operation pales in comparison to the Godolphins and Coolmores of the world. However, that doesn’t dissuade him from regularly targeting the biggest prize – often with a runner who bears little resemblance to a Derby hero on paper.
Second with the 50/1 chance Khalifa Sat in 2020, and the 150/1 shot Hoo Ya Mal in 2022, this year Ahmad sends the unheralded duo of Al Wasl Storm and Green Storm into battle. The former is bred to be a National Hunt performer, while the latter was beaten by 10 lengths in his trial. Both are amongst the rank outsiders, but such was the case with Ahmad’s previous runners-up finishers.
Middleham Park Racing
At £2,375 for a 2.5 per cent share, Lazy Griff wasn’t exactly cheap. Nevertheless, one suspects that the average wealth of his owners falls some way short of that boasted by the Magniers, Tabors, and Arabian Royalty behind the leading contenders. Belgian ace Christophe Soumillon flies in for the ride aboard a horse that finished a close second behind Lambourn in the Chester Vase.
The Rogues Gallery
One of the great success stories for syndicate ownership, The Rogues Gallery has tasted Listed and Group 2 victory thanks to Rogue Lightning and Rogue Millennium. However, a win for Rogue Impact in the Derby would top the lot. Having mastered Al Wasl Storm in his maiden at Linfield, this Study Of Man colt disappointed in the Derby Trial at that track but should at least give his vast ownership group a good day out.
Mrs David Aykroyd
Thanks to Amiloc’s runaway win in the Cocked Hat Stakes and Pride Of Arras’s Dante victory, Mrs David Aykroyd is enjoying a year to remember as an owner. Bred by the Aykroyds at their small four-mare stud, Pride Of Arras would rate a particularly heartwarming Derby winner. Having supported the sport for decades, David Aykroyd is unable to attend due to suffering from dementia and will instead watch the race from his care home. Keen to enhance the experience for the residents, Jockey Club Racecourses have arranged for the race to be shown on the big screen and supplied 20 official racecards to add to the Epsom feel.
