Permian bursts into Derby reckoning
Colt 16-1 for Classic after emphatic Dante win Cracksman cut to 4-1 despite missing York
Permian stormed into the Investec Derby picture at York yesterday and Mark Johnston, at least, will hope he follows in the footsteps of the last Middleham-trained Derby winner, Dante, after whom yesterday’s Betfred-sponsored trial is named.
Cracksman, John Gosden’s Frankel colt who was kept at home in Newmarket yesterday because of the unsuitable ground and proximity of the race to the Derby, remains the sexier choice and, despite his no-show, is now trading as 4-1 jointfavourite with Churchill for the Classic.
But Permian did little wrong here and has clearly come on leaps and bounds since going down by a short head to Cracksman in the Epsom Trial in April and, at 16-1 for his return there on the first Saturday in June, either he is too big a price or Cracksman is too short.
Ironically, considering how many winners he sends out, Johnston is still unfashionable with punters and bookmakers alike at Classic level. The colt will need supplementing for Epsom, but he also needed supplementing for yesterday’s race.
Always travelling well, the son of Teofilo came home strongly under Franny Norton to beat Benbatl and recent Derby gamble Crystal Ocean by threequarters of a length and half a length.
“I’d be delighted to go to Epsom,” said Johnston. “It’s a while since we have been there with a live chance. Two days ago we were debating the change of ground and I said, ‘We’ve paid £12,000 for it – he goes [to York] even if it’s a bog’. But Epsom holds no fears, we know he handles the track and now we know we go on any ground.
“I know he’s come from humble beginnings but he ran a great race in the Epsom trial. I can’t say I wasn’t fearing Cracksman [in the Dante] but our horse came on from Epsom to Newmarket. I’m sure Cracksman will improve and there’s no doubt we have.”
Godolphin spokesman John Ferguson confirmed Permian, who is owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s son Sheikh Hamdan, would be supplemented, while Benbatl and Best Solution are also likely to go for the team.
If you were one of those in on the gathering Derby coup on Crystal Ocean, who had been backed down from 40-1 to 10-1 in the past week, then there, unfortunately, is some ready-to-make confetti for you.
“He is promising,” said Sir Michael Stoute. “A mile and a half will suit him better and he has a big future in front of him. The Derby wouldn’t be my plan but he has an owner!”