First crop Chaparral colt is Epsom bound

6th March 2008

High Chaparral’s victory in the 2001 Derby - one of his six career G1 successes - lasts long in his memory and a member of his first crop is being targeted at the Epsom Classic this year.

Mountain Pride (2c High Chaparral-Lioness by Lion Cavern), whose trainer John Dunlop has tasted Derby success twice before, will carry the colours of Ian Cameron - whose son David is leader of the Conservative Party in Britain.

“Mountain Pride is the first horse I’ve ever had entered in the Epsom Derby,” said Cameron senior. “I’ve had a G1 winner in Italy called Hello and Emerging Market, who won the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, but this is the first potential Derby horse. He was one of High Chaparral’s first colts, having been born in January and he finished third on his debut at Newmarket before being beaten by three heads and half a length at Newbury on really firm ground. We were pleased with his win at Leicester and he has wintered well.

“We don’t know if he’s good enough to take his chance in the Derby and its depends on how he performs on his first start of the season, which will be sometime in April and probably over 10 furlongs, but it’s up to John Dunlop to decide.”

Cameron is hoping that if Mountain Pride makes it to Epsom his son will be there to cheer the colt on.

“I don’t know if David will come and watch our horse run if he took his chance in the Derby, but I hope he would,” added Cameron.

“I used to take the children racing when they were young and so he has been to Epsom many times before.”

Mountain Pride was bred by Raymond Doyle and changed hands for 80,000 euros as a foal.