A New Breed of Owner-Breeders Emerges in the Classic

The 246th running of the Derby at Epsom is shaping up to be one of the most open and exciting in recent memory, with a distinct sense of a 1970s revival surrounding the emergence of Pride of Arras as a leading contender. The small-scale owner-breeder, once an endangered species in the face of big-money operations, is making a comeback, and Vimy Aykroyd’s story is a prime example of this trend.

Aykroyd, a lifelong enthusiast of thoroughbred racing, bred Pride of Arras with her husband, David, at their base in Yorkshire. The mare, Parnell’s Dream, produced Pride of Arras, her fourth foal, in 2022 after a mating with New Bay. While the first three foals were all winners, Pride of Arras has the potential to be the biggest jackpot yet. The colt’s two-and-a-half minute run for glory is the result of years of planning, patience, and enthusiastic optimism.

“We bought his grand-dam, Kitty O’Shea, privately from Coolmore,” Aykroyd says. “She had several foals, and we kept Parnell’s Dream. She’s bred quite a few winners already, but nothing of his calibre. We’re just incredibly lucky to have bred a horse with enormous potential.”

The Derby looks as open as any running this century, with three horses vying for favouritism on Friday afternoon. The strong possibility of rain on Saturday adding a further layer of uncertainty, as 19 lightly raced colts prepare for their one and only chance to win the sport’s most famous Classic.

Pride of Arras has more scope for progress than any of the beaten horses at York, and is expected to handle the conditions if the going turns soft. His stable companion, Stanhope Gardens, and the unbeaten French challenger Midak could be significant threats, but at around 9-2, Pride of Arras can emerge from the pack as the 246th winner of the Derby.

Ralph Beckett, Pride of Arras’s trainer, has been working with the Aykroyds for nearly a quarter of a century. “I was brought up with Ralph’s father as a child, so I’ve known the family for years,” Aykroyd says. “When he started, I decided to have a horse with him. It’s gone on ever since.”

The story of Pride of Arras is a testament to the power of passion and dedication in thoroughbred racing. Aykroyd’s enthusiasm for the sport is evident in every aspect of her operation, from the breeding of her mares to the training of her horses. As she prepares to watch her colt compete in the Derby, she remains focused on the present, rather than worrying about the future.

“I don’t think ahead,” she says. “One step at a time, you can get carried away by thinking ahead and then you get disappointed. I can’t see the point of that.”

As the big-money operations continue to dominate the Derby, the emergence of Pride of Arras and other small-scale owner-breeders is a welcome breath of fresh air. With the Derby looking as open as ever, it’s anyone’s game, and Pride of Arras is ready to make a statement.

The Contenders

Pride of Arras: The 9-2 favourite, bred by Vimy Aykroyd and trained by Ralph Beckett.

Stanhope Gardens: A stable companion of Pride of Arras, also trained by Ralph Beckett.

Midak: The unbeaten French challenger, trained by Jean-Claude Rouget.

The Conditions

The Derby will take place on Saturday, with a strong possibility of rain.

The going is expected to be soft, which could favour some of the contenders.

The 19 lightly raced colts will face their biggest challenge yet in the Derby.