Epsom Derby Possible for Promising Frankel Colt

Stunningly bred John Leeper (Frankel-Snow Fairy, by Intikhab) proved he had Gr1 Epsom Derby potential when he won his maiden over 2100m recently, reports racingpost.com.au. "It's under consideration," said his trainer, Ed Dunlop. "Obviously, we're still digesting after Friday's race but he's in the Dante, he has the right entries. He's a horse we always hoped would go on and do good things as a 3YO." John Leeper, named after Dunlop's father, whose middle name was Leeper, is the first colt out of multiple Gr1 winner Snow Fairy (Intikhab-Woodland Dream, by Charnwood Forest) who was Champion European 3YO Filly in 2010 as well as winning multiple other champion titles in her eight-win career that netted nearly £4 million. Winner of the English and Irish Oaks, Snow Fairy also won the Gr1 Hong Kong Cup, Gr1 Irish Champion Stakes, and Japan's Gr1 QEII Commemorative Cup twice. Snow Fairy's first two foals are fillies; Belle de Neige (Elusive Pimpernel) raced once, while Virgin Snow (Gleneagles) is a group-placed winning 4YO. "There's not a great deal of time between now and Epsom," Dunlop continued, "and he is naturally a very inexperienced horse. But we are considering it. We're considering the Dante and we're considering the option of going straight to the Derby, or he's in the King Edward VII at Royal Ascot. Physically, he's beautiful: big, strong, well-bred, good temperament. He's a fine, imposing horse. He should stay well, he should stay a mile and a half with that pedigree and he is hopefully going to be a very exciting horse this season."