Sanctioned by nearly 250 years of history and tradition – it was first run and won by Lord Derby's Diomed in 1780 – the 2400-metre test over the switchback Epsom course has for centuries been a massive influence in shaping the global bloodstock industry.

Any colt, the race is not open to geldings, who triumphs in the hurly burly of Derby Day, when huge crowds throng the downland course, is inevitably feted when they themselves go to stud, mated with the best mares from the most successful families in a bid to establish their dynastic success.

In the early hours of Sunday morning (AEST) another blue-blooded galloper will etch his name onto racing's most distinguished honour roll when the 2016 Derby is staged at Epsom.

It is a race that in the past 30 years the mighty Coolmore operation has made its holy grail, its economic model being based on manufacturing top-class stallions who can command huge breeding fees based on their racecourse performance.

While the racing world has evolved and now 2000m rather than the Derby's 2400m is regarded as the classic race distance, there are still fewer more compelling sales pitches for a colt retiring to stud than the simple phrase "Derby winner".

It immediately conjures up ideas of class, toughness, a sound temperament, speed and stamina in equal measure.

Coolmore's Ballydoyle-based trainer Aidan O'Brien will saddle up five of the 16 runners, headed by the market-leading US Army Ranger, the choice of stable jockey Ryan Moore – a man familiar to Australian punters after his Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate successes on Protectionist and Adelaide in recent years.

The son of Galileo did not see a racecourse until April this year, and has only run, and won, twice in his career. In Australia it would count as a very unorthodox preparation, but not in Europe,where lightly-raced colts are often thrown in at the deep end in top-quality races.

His main market rival and just shading favouritism is the Frankie Dettori-ridden Wings Of Desire, trained, like last year's Dettori-ridden winner Golden Horn, by John Gosden.

Wings Of Desire is another inexperienced type. The son of the sprinter Pivotal did not make his racecourse debut until April 14, when he ran third in a 2000m maiden. He subsequently won a maiden on the all-weather track at lowly Wolverhampton before scoring in the leading Derby trial, the Dante Stakes, at York three weeks ago.

The huge Godolphin operation is also mounting a major challenge with the French-trained Cloth Of Stars and the Irish raider Moonlight Magic. The former is prepared by Andre Fabre, who won the race for Sheikh Mohammed in 2011 with Pour Moi, the latter by Jim Bolger, who won the Derby in 2008 with New Approach, who raced in the Sheik's wife, Princess Haya's colours.

That pair have impressive credentials, Cloth Of Gold having won a 2000m group 2 race at Saint Cloud last time, while Moonlight Magic scored over a similar distance at Leopardstown in Ireland in the group 3 Derrinstown Derby trial.

Both the Godolphin entries will also be ridden by jockeys who have, like Moore (Workforce, Ruler Of The World) and Dettori (Authorized and Golden Horn) tasted Derby success. Cloth Of Gold's partner, Mickael Barzeaona, won on Pour Moi, while Kevin Manning, who rides Moonlight Magic, triumphed on New Approach.