Thursday, Baden-Baden, Germany, post time: 16:35, 48TH KRONIMUS BADENER MEILE-G3, €55,000, 3yo/up, 8fTField: Next Mine (Ger) (Dabirsim {Fr}), New Emerald (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}), Sir Tommy Cen (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Sommersby (Ger) (Amaron {Ger}), Aster (Ger) (Outstrip {GB}), Ayada (Ger) (Areion {Ger}).TDN Analysis: Eckhard Sauren's uber-consistent Next Mine was 1 1/2 lengths off a victory when third in Saint-Cloud's G2 Prix du Muguet at the beginning of May and last term's G2 Premio Vittorio di Capua hero is one of the protagonists in this return to domestic action. He'd previously run third behind New Emerald and Best Lightning in April's G3 Fruhjahrs Meile and the form received a boost when the latter took care of business in Tuesday's G3 Premio Presidente Della Repubblica at the San Siro. Henk Grewe contender Aster makes the step up off a breakthrough win in April's Listed Hoppegartener Fillies Mile, where she finished four places and just over three lengths ahead of 2024 Listed Prix de Saint-Cyr victrix Ayada, while Yeguada Centurion's multiple winner Sir Tommy Cen and the Andreas Wohler-trained handicapper Sommersby require more than previously evidenced to feature in this higher grade. [Sean Cronin].Thursday, Leopardstown, post time: 18:30, KING GEORGE V CUP-Listed, €30,000, 3yo, 12fTField: Amadeus Mozart (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Endorsement (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), So Must I (Ire) (Sottsass {Fr}), Yousaynothingatall (Ire) (Australia {GB}).TDN Analysis: Up in trip again, Endorsement is freed from the shackles of accompanying the superior Pierre Bonnard to enjoy his own moment in the limelight. Whether he actually stays this far is not a given, so the triple Group-placed colt has that to prove. The race was already an all O'Brien-trained affair before the scratch of Aidan's son Donnacha's smart filly, Emmeleia. However, elder son Joseph has both So Must I and Yousaynothingatall facing Endorsement and Amadeus Mozart from Ballydoyle.Saturday, Epsom Downs, post time: 16:00, THE BETFRED DERBY-G1, £2,000,000, 3yo, c/f, 12f 6yTField: Action (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Alderman (GB) (Study Of Man {GB}), Ancient Egypt (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), A Taste Of Glory (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), Balzac (Ger) (Japan {GB}), Bay Of Brilliance (GB) (New Bay {GB}), Benvenuto Cellini (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Christmas Day (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Item (GB) (Frankel {GB}), James J Braddock (GB) (Zarak {Fr}), Maltese Cross (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Pierre Bonnard (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Poker (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Rebel Rocker (GB) (Cityscape {GB}).TDN Analysis: A renewal that has a picture that could shift considerably between declaration time and the race itself, with a mixed weather forecast suggesting it could be run on anything from good-to-soft to very soft. The clear favourite for some time, Benvenuto Cellini, will want it as lively as it can get based on how he operates but there is form on a yielding surface and his accomplished dam Newspaperofrecord had it on the soft side when recording her career-best in the Breeders' Cup. Pierre Bonnard won the Criterium de Saint-Cloud on testing ground and may benefit more than the favourite if more rain comes, while the yard's other big chance who will stay is Christmas Day and he is far from out of this. Like Benvenuto Cellini, Item is out of a Lope De Vega mare and it is worth noting that Capla Temptress was second in a soft-ground Lake Placid. Strangely for a Derby, he is the only unbeaten runner in the line-up and may have more class than the likes of James J Braddock, Maltese Cross and Bay Of Brilliance whose trial performances don't look particularly strong on the clock or the formbook. [Tom Frary].Friday, Epsom Downs, post time: 16:00, THE BETFRED OAKS-G1, £625,000, 3yo, f, 12f 6yTField: A La Prochaine (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Amelia Earhart (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Cameo (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), K Sarra (GB) (New Bay {GB}), Legacy Link (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), On Message (GB) (Camelot {GB}), Sugar Island (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Thundering On (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Venetian Lace (Ire) (Masar {Ire}).TDN Analysis: Like stablemate Benvenuto Cellini, Amelia Earhart has to prove that she can produce her best on a rain-softened surface and unlike him still has a question to answer regarding stamina for this. A La Prochaine was an eye-catcher behind her in the Cheshire Oaks and was strongly disadvantaged by the way the race was run, so it would be no surprise if she were to take a big step forward for the Ralph Beckett stable that has done so well in this Classic. Thundering On is also intriguing, up in trip again from the Salsabil she won with such authority, while Frankel's Musidora-winning relative Legacy Link, the impressive Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Cameo and 1,000 Guineas third Venetian Lace make this a far more wide-open edition than the betting suggests. [Tom Frary].Friday, Epsom Downs, post time: 14:40, THE BETFRED DIOMED STAKES-G3, £125,000, 3yo/up, 8f 113yTField: Boiling Point (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Chancellor (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Ice Max (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Persica (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Qirat (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), Royal Playwright (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Seagulls Eleven (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}), Skukuza (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}).TDN Analysis: It's hard to believe that we have a Sussex Stakes winner who isn't even in the first four in the betting for this, but Qirat is living proof that horseracing is not an exact science. Last year's winner Persica will get similar ground conditions to 12 months ago and has been laid out for this, while Seagulls Eleven is just a plain good horse at this level and could be getting better. [Tom Frary].Friday, Epsom Downs, post time: 17:15, THE CYGAMES SURREY STAKES-Listed, £85,000, 3yo, 7f 3yTField: Ardisia (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}), Greek Mythology (Ire) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Northern Champion (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Postmodern (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Stellar Sunrise (GB) (Space Blues {Ire}), Ten Carat Harry (GB) (Ardad {Ire}), Assaranca (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Awaken (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Ellusive Butterfly (Ire) (Invincible Army {Ire}).TDN Analysis: Stellar Sunrise was no match for the classier Saber Strike and Cerro Blanco at Newmarket last time, but there isn't anything like as exciting as that pair lurking in this line-up and he is a real “Festival” horse having won at Glorious Goodwood and York's Ebor last summer. Greek Mythology was an honourable third taking on older horses in a competitive Listed contest last time and this is probably easier. [Tom Frary].Click here for the complete fields.The post Black-Type Analysis: 2026 Derby Field Arrives appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.