Victory in the ’Cann for Reds

OWNER: James Milner

Mr McCANN earned his famous footballing connections a potential day at the 2022 Derby with victory in the Cazoo Derby “Wild Card” EBF Conditions Stakes at Epsom.

Trained by Tom Dascombe, the

Kodiac colt has run a string of fine races in good company this season, not least when beaten less than three lengths by Native Trail in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket’s July Meeting.

Having started his campaign at five furlongs and never before gone beyond seven, this represented a different test altogether for a horse named after Liverpool’s press officer, Matt McCann.

He’s also owned by a group of current and former Liverpool players which includes James Milner, Alex OxladeChamberlain, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Adam Lallana and England star Jordan Henderson.

Debut

His cause was helped when odds- on favourite Goldspur, so impressive on his debut at Sandown, became upset in the stalls and was withdrawn.

But Richard Kingscote rode a masterful race from the front on the 4-1 chance and pulled nicely clear of Austrian Theory to win by five and a half lengths.

The success gives Mr McCann and his owners automatic entry to the premier Classic. He was given a 66-1 quote by

Paddy Power.

The winning jockey told Racing TV: “He is very professional. Tom was confident the mile would help him, so we jumped out, got in a rhythm and away we went.

“I thought early on maybe he was just moving a bit too well for the slower ground, but he handled the track very well and he skipped away up the straight.”