REALM’S BOXED OFF FOR DERBY
ROGER VARIAN reckons Third Realm “ticks a lot of the boxes” for the Cazoo Derby after a decisive victory at Lingfield Park saw his odds slashed to 10-1 for Epsom on June 5.
The son of 2009 Derby hero Sea The Stars, fifth at Kempton Park in November on his sole start at two, built on a return-to-action novice stakes score at Nottingham last month with a length-and-aquarter margin over 6-5 favourite Adayar in the Surrey track’s Listed Novibet Derby Trial.
The first two crossed the line five-and-ahalf lengths to the good of third home Scope, and even the understated Varian found full voice to sing the praises of a colt who had been a 100-1 chance for the pre-eminent Classic at the start of trading yesterday.
“I’d be lying if I thought in March he was a definite Derby candidate but he’s a horse we always liked,” said the Newmarket trainer (above). “I was very pleased when he won at Nottingham. If it was another 100 yards, he’d have won by five lengths and I knew he’d come on a bundle for it.
“He’s worked nicely over the last fortnight. It was always the plan to come here – it was a little bit ‘toe in the water’ to see how we’d fare - but we like him and I’m delighted to see him win.”
Varian saddled the Prix du Jockey Club-bound El Drama to land Chester’s Dee Stakes on Thursday, and Carlburg Stables’ Royal Champion contests the Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes at York on Thursday.
All three colts carry the colours of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, whose retained jockey Andrea Atzeni is set to replace yesterday’s winning rider David Egan aboard Third Realm at Epsom.
“I’ll have to speak to Sheikh Mohammed
Obaid but he’s won a recognised Derby trial and he looks like he’s going to stay,” added Varian.
“He ticks a lot of the boxes. Whether he’s good enough, you won’t know until you try but he’s thrown his hat in the ring.
“He’s probably won well enough to deserve his place at Epsom.”
Sherbet Lemon sprang a 28-1 shock in the Listed Novibet Oaks Trial and is now 33-1 for the Cazoo Oaks on June 4. The filly carries the colours of the Apple Tree Stud, whose racing manager Robert Thornton said: “She’ll stay galloping, so you never know – she could run into a place.”