WORKFORCE will run in the Investec Derby a week on Saturday after connections were delighted with a racecourse gallop yesterday.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt finished second to Cape Blanco in the Dante Stakes at York earlier this month. It was only his second career start but the King’s Best colt – a 12-1 chance with Coral – and he will now be among owner Khalid Abdullah’s team for Epsom next week.
Stoute and Abdullah’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe decided to give the colt some more racecourse experience and put him through his paces at Lingfield yesterday morning.
Alongside two stable-mates he came out on top under Ryan Moore.
And despite no horse beaten in the Dante winning the Epsom showpiece, connections are happy to take their chance.
Grimthorpe said: “He went fine, he’s got the most super temperament. He travelled very smoothly in between the two lead horses, quickened up nicely to go through between them and went on with the other horse to finish nicely on the bridle.
“The whole idea was just to give him a bit more racecourse experience really. He’s only had two starts in his life to the more he gets used to being on the track, the better.
“I have to speak to the Prince just to confirm he’s happy to do that (go to the Derby). Sir Michael was very positive and I would say it would be all systems go.”
Stoute added: “He worked well, and we wanted to give him that experience of going down a slope.”
Abdullah’s other intended runner is Lingfield Derby Trial winner Bullet Train – who is a best-priced 10-1 with most firms behind Aidan O’Brien’s triumvirate St Nicholas Abbey, Jan Vermeer and Midas Touch.
The Henry Cecil-trained colt also worked on the Newmarket gallops yesterday. Grimthorpe added: “Bullet Train is heading that way (to Epsom) as well.
“He did a nice breeze in Newmarket this morning so everyone is happy with him.
“I think Workforce is relatively inexperienced but hopefully potentially very decent – whatever he does we still expect improvement from him.
“Bullet Train has gone there and done everything right this season. He came from Newbury and went to Lingfield where he quickened up well, so he’s the sort of horse you can expect to run a really decent race.”
Hot Prospect, who was beaten three and three-quarter lengths when third to Bullet Train at Lingfield, is also on course for Epsom.
Trainer Michael Jarvis said: “He runs in the Derby. We know he’s an outsider, but he’s in good form and the owner has paid his entries. He’ll get the trip and he likes good, fast ground.
“If you fancy Bullet Train to win, we’re four lengths behind him, so he should at least finish in the middle of the field and hopefully better. He won’t be disgraced.
“He’s improving and looking better than he’s done all year.”
Three-time Derby-winning jockey Kieren Fallon does not have a ride in the race but thinks former boss O’Brien holds all the ace. Fallon said: “Any of his first four look like they could win the race. He has a strong hand in the Derby and I think the winner has got to come out of his yard, you couldn’t look much further.”
Meanwhile for the first time in British horse racing history, Stewards' Enquiries determining the outcome of a race are to be broadcast live by the BBC at this year's Investec Derby Festival at Epsom on June 4-5.
The inner workings of the Stewards' room have been closely guarded for nearly 250 years, but now the public will be able to see the procedures that affect the destiny of millions of pounds of punters' money.
TODAY’S NAP: Rumble Of Thunder (6.05pm Sandown).
