Derby hopefuls show promise
THE Cazoo Derby picture should be looking a lot clearer by the end of this week – but whatever happens at York, Aidan O’Brien and Roger Varian are two trainers who each know they have a significant contender.
After Varian’s El Drama won the Dee Stakes at Chester, stablemate Third Realm followed up on Saturday in Lingfield’s Novibet Derby Trial, skipping clear to beat the wellregarded Adayar.
In Bolshoi Ballet, though, it is O’Brien who houses the new Epsom favourite after his colt put up an impressive performance to dispose of the opposition in Sunday’s Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes by upwards of six lengths.
O’Brien still hopes his former ante-post favourite High Definition will run in the Dante at York on Thursday as the unsatisfactory blood count which ruled him out of Lingfield continues to improve.
Bolshoi Ballet, however, thrust himself centre stage – justifying his even-money starting price at Leopardstown with a stylish success from stablemate Lough Derg.
O’Brien was completing a quick Group Three double after the regallybred 11-4 favourite Joan Of Arc also dominated her field to win the preceding Irish 1,000 Guineas Trial by a length and three-quarters. He said of Bolshoi Ballet: “He’s very uncomplicated, quickens, relaxes. We always loved him. We are delighted with that and we couldn’t have asked for any more from him.”
The Derrinstown has a rich history of identifying future champions, especially of the Ballydoyle lineage. But Lingfield’s trial should not be underestimated either in throwing up Classic contenders, as a real pointer to a colt’s ability or otherwise to handle the twists and turns of Epsom.
Varian’s son of Derby hero Sea The Stars duly put himself in that bracket.
Ridden with restraint for much of the near mile-and-a-half journey by David Egan, 14-1 shot Third Realm was switched wide to mount his challenge rounding the home turn and quickly reeled in the leaders. The giant 6-5 favourite Adayar did his best to close the gap, but Egan always looked in control en route to a length-and-a-quarter success.
Varian said: “It goes without saying we’re delighted with that performance. We thought he’d run well. It’s the nature of the business that you’re cautiously optimistic when you’re going from a maiden to a recognised trial, but it isn’t a surprise – he’s a colt we think a lot of.
“He won nicely at Nottingham. I was worried about the ground, to be honest, but I thought if he handled conditions he’d be well up to running a nice race.”
Varian added: “He ticks a lot of the boxes (for Epsom) in that he’s won a recognised trial, it looks like he’ll get the trip and he’s won on good to firm ground at Nottingham and in pretty testing conditions today.
“He’s a neat, well-balanced colt who ought to handle the undulations of Epsom.”
Oaks clues were not as obvious in Lingfield’s fillies’ trial, won as it was a by 28-1 outsider Sherbet Lemon.
Still, the Archie Watson-trained daughter of Lemon Drop Kid is lightly raced and entitled to take her chance, with Coral reacting to the surprise result by cutting Sherbet Lemon to 25-1 from 50-1 for Classic glory on June 4.