Race sponsor’s Classic chance
LESTER PIGGOTT no longer rules the roost at Epsom, where he partnered a record nine Derby winners, but his legacy continues.
His son-in-law William Haggas runs Young Rascal in the world’s greatest Flat race today. Haggas, who celebrated success in the 1996 Derby with Shaamit, his first runner, hopes to fulfil a dream for Bernard Kantor, managing director of race sponsor Investec, before he retires in November. “Bernard has been a good friend of mine for a long time,” said Haggas. “I’ve trained for him for 22 years and to be able to produce a horse in top shape for Derby day would obviously be very special.
“It’s his company’s race and this is his passion, so we’ve always tried to get him a horse for the Derby.
“If he was buying a yearling, he was always looking for something to win the Derby or run well in it. “I stood with him when Dancing Rain won the Oaks for me in 2011 and he presented the trophies and it was a golden moment for me. If it happened it would be very special.”
Young Rascal, a 10-1 chance, will be the South African-born Kantor’s first runner in the Derby after his past hopes failed to make the grade.
Haggas looked to the heavens and scratched his head as he attempted to recall Shaamit’s victory. “It was so long ago,” said Haggas, who has saddled only two runners in the Classic since Michael Hills partnered Shaamit to success.
“This horse is different to Shaamit because they are built differently.”
Shaamit hadn’t run as a threeyear-old before the Derby. Shaamit had natural talent. Young Rascal, though, is learning.
“He has had plenty of experience and he is fully entitled to have a go at the Derby.
“I’m sure he will run OK, but whether he can win is a different matter.
Emotion
“I can only get the horse to the race in the best condition I can. It was important to bring the horse to Epsom last week for a gallop.”
But Haggas has not asked his father-in-law for his opinion.
“What can he do now?” said Haggas. “He can’t ride it and he’s not going to stop me running because I think the Derby’s the greatest race on earth.”
Haggas dismissed nerves about running the colt. “I have a sign in my office that says worry is a futile emotion and it’s true. I don’t get nervous now,” he said.
“I think the only time a trainer gets nervous is if he thinks he should not be running the horse and is taking a risk. I get a little tense. But smoking 20 cigarettes? No, not for me.” Haggas has total admiration for Aidan O’Brien – trainer of Saxon Warrior – who is seeking a seventh Derby win. “What Aidan has achieved is unbelievable, remarkable,” he said. “He has some of the best-bred horses in the world – most of them actually.
“But he’s done a brilliant job. He delivers year after year.
“Saxon Warrior was very impressive in the Guineas and is going to be hard to beat. But you never know what is going to happen, he could get boxed in during the race.
“Nobody saw
Wings Of
Eagles coming (last year’s shock 40-1
Derby winner).
“It’s a very hard race, the
Derby, they have to be right up for it.
It can be done.
“Finding the one with a chance is difficult but I think that
Young
Rascal has a chance.”