The 2011 renewal of the Investec Derby, which will carry a prize fund of at least £1.25 million, has received 444 entries at the yearling stage - an increase of 56 on the 2010 entry of 388.

Run over a mile and a half at Epsom Downs, the 232nd Investec Derby takes place on Saturday, June 4, 2011.

Lady Bamford, who owned and bred the 2009 Investec Oaks victress Sariska, has two entries, including a half-brother to Sariska by Cape Cross, the sire of the 2009 Investec Derby hero Sea The Stars. Set to join Sariska at Michael Bell’s yard in Newmarket, the colt is currently in pre-training.

Hugo Lascelles, racing adviser to Lady Bamford, said today: “Sariska’s half-brother is unnamed at the moment and is currently down at Malcolm Bastard’s.

“Obviously, it’s early days, but he is a really, really nice sort. He has been broken in and ridden away.

“He looks a really good mover and is something to look forward to.”

Owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, who landed the Investec Derby with Nashwan (1989) and Erhaab (1994), has entered 43 yearlings for 2011 - the highest number of entrants for any individual owner. Among Sheikh Hamdan’s contingent is a $650,000 purchase from the Keeneland September Sale, a Dynaformer colt out of Curriculum.

Sheikh Hamdan’s brother Sheikh Mohammed has 40 entries including the $2.8 million Saratoga August Sale purchase On A Storm, a colt by Storm Cat out of Onaga and the highest-priced yearling sold in the Northern Hemisphere during 2009.

The Maktoum family’s global racing operation, Godolphin, has 32 entries, including a Storm Cat half-brother to Electrocutionist, who topped the Deauville August Sale at €900,000 and a Kingmambo colt out of Vadahilla, who cost $750,000 at Saratoga in August.

An active buyer at this year’s yearling sales was Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, a member of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family, and he could be represented by the 475,000 guineas purchase Durante Aligieri. The Galileo colt is out of Puce and in training with four-time Derby-winning trainer Henry Cecil.

When added together, the combined total of entries for the Coolmore team of owners Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith is 65. Galileo (2001) was successful in the colours of Sue Magnier, while High Chaparral (2002) carried the Michael Tabor silks to victory. Among those currently registered to Derrick Smith is an Oasis Dream colt out of Maganda, who topped the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale at 700,000 guineas, while among the Tabor-owned entries are a 550,000 guineas Galileo colt out of Tadkiyra and a Montjeu colt out of Welsh Love, who topped the Goffs Orby Sale at 420,000 guineas. The Magnier-owned entries include a Galileo colt out of the 1986 Irish Oaks heroine Colorspin (the dam of Kayf Tara and Opera House), who cost 550,000 guineas at Tattersalls and a Galileo colt out of Kitza, who made 600,0000 guineas at Tattersalls.

The most successful current owner in the Investec Derby is the Aga Khan, who has enjoyed a quartet of victories courtesy of Shergar (1981), Shahrastani (1986), Kahyasi (1988) and Sinndar (2000). For the 2011 Investec Derby, the Aga Khan has 26 initial entries, split between French handler Alain de Royer-Dupre and Sinndar’s trainer John Oxx, who also of course handled the 2009 Investec Derby hero Sea The Stars.

Other previous winning owners include Ballymacoll Stud (2004 North Light, seven entries) and Khalid Abdulla (1990 Quest For Fame, 1993 Commander In Chief, 10 entries). Among the 10 entries from Khalid Abdulla is the produce of his 1997 Oaks victor Reams Of Verse, an Empire Maker colt.

Ouija Board was an outstanding winner of the Oaks in 2004 in the famous black and white silks of Lord Derby and went on to claim a further six Group/Grade One victories around the world. Her first progeny, a Kingmambo colt named Voodoo Prince, is entered in the 2011 Derby. Lordship Stud has entered a Galileo half-brother to Love Divine, the 2000 Oaks heroine.

Aureole came close to giving the Queen a Derby victory when runner-up to Pinza in the Coronation year of 1953 and the Royal silks could be carried in 2011 by Audacious, by the 2005 Derby winner Motivator, and Wayward Glance, who comes from the final crop of 14-times champion sire Sadler’s Wells.

Manchester United and England striker Michael Owen has entered a Shirocco colt out of his Listed-winning mare Treble Heights, while Benny Andersson of Abba fame also has an entry.

For any horse not entered at the yearling stage, connections have the opportunity to enter as a three-year-old for £8,000. That second entry stage closes on Tuesday, April 5, 2011.

Any late-developing types that might burst onto the scene can be supplemented at the final stage on Monday, May 30, 2011, at a cost of £75,000.

Andrew Cooper, Director of Racing at Epsom Downs, commented: “We are pleased to see an upturn in the number of yearling entries for the 2011 Investec Derby from last December’s low and are extremely grateful for the support of owners and trainers at this stage.

“The value of the 2011 Investec Derby has been held at £1.25 million, which is an achievement in these challenging times and is due in no small part to the yearling entry. This remains the cheapest route to Epsom Downs in June, 2011.”