Hayley Turner to make history in Saturday’s Investec Derby

Already the first female jockey to ride a Group One winner outright, Hayley Turner is now set to become only the second female to partake in the Epsom Derby, aboard 50/1 shot Cavaleiro.

Turner follows in the footsteps of Alex Greaves, who finished last in the 1996 renewal of the race, in accompaniment with 500/1 mount Portuguese Lil.

Greaves was previously the only female to have claimed a Group One success too, landing a dead heat triumph in the 1997 Nunthorpe Stakes, but two outright wins for Turner since then have seen her surpass that achievement.

Still just 29, her pedigree in flat racing is unquestionable, which may lead some punters to take at least an each-way interest in her ride this coming Saturday.

She became the first female to land 100 UK Flat winners back in 2008, and celebrated the news of her booking in Saturday’s race by landing a victory at Goodwood last Thursday.

It should also be noted that whilst her charge for the Derby is relatively low in the betting, the 3-year-old colt has an impressive record of two wins from six races, and has never finished outside three places in all his outings.

One of his victories also came with Turner in the saddle, and whilst this race is of far greater significance than when he justified favouritism at Chepstow, his jockey is confident that the Epsom course is ideal for a horse with his staying power.

“I think he’s the sort of horse that will suit the course, he’s quite a strong traveller and in his trial race things just didn’t fall right for him at all, you’d almost want to put a line through that one. He’s progressing with age and he’ll definitely stay,” she told Racing UK.

All factors considered, not least the highly impressive CV of Turner herself, Cavaleiro would appear an interesting prospect as a massive 50/1 chance for Epsom’s Investec Derby.