John Gosden produced a live Derby contender from an unexpected quarter when Jack Hobbs routed the field for the handicap that closed Friday’s card here. The colt, having just the second outing of his career, had an official rating of just 85 for this race, which hardly suggested he might be up to Classic standard, but he cantered through this contest and won by 12 lengths.
Several firms now have him as short as 8-1 for the Epsom Classic on 6 June, just two points bigger than the favourite, Ol Man River, but the winning trainer stopped short of committing him to the race. “He might be ready for a trial now,” Gosden said, pointing out that Jack Hobbs holds an entry for York’s Dante on 14 May.
“You see why he’s only run once, in December, big rangy boy. He’s a lovely, progressive horse and we’ll see where he goes from here. I did put him in the Dante, so that is an option. He’s a well balanced horse, so we’ll see. He’s a nice type of horse to have.”
Gosden reported the view of Frankie Dettori, who was aboard Jack Hobbs, that the three-year-old would stay a mile and a half. “Lovely horse, a big stride and a good mind on him,” the trainer continued. “He hasn’t done any work off the bridle at home, so he was a bit surprised when he asked him to go but he did it well. Couldn’t be more thrilled with him.”
No British trainer is better placed to assess the strength of this three-year-old crop, as Gosden won Epsom’s Derby trial on Wednesday with Christophermarlowe and fielded Snoano to be third in the Classic Trial on this card, an uninspiring affair won by the 12-1 shot Master Apprentice, who will miss Epsom and go for a Group Three at Royal Ascot according to his trainer, Andrew Balding.
Dettori and Gosden were also in the winner’s enclosure after the Gordon Richards Stakes, won by Western Hymn, who now appears more professional in attitude after being gelded over the winter. The four-year-old, sixth in last year’s Derby, may now go for the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot.
By the end of the day, Dettori had won four races, thought to be the first four-timer he has achieved since his Godolphin days. “John’s horses are flying,” the jockey said. “I’m only doing the steering, you know. I’m riding the same as I was last week, it’s just I’m on good horses.”
But Dettori had no ride in the Group Two Bet365 Mile, won by Custom Cut, whose progress since joining David O’Meara for last season has been extraordinary. He failed to cope with heavy going when tried in Group One company last autumn but will have another go in next month’s Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.
Charlie Hills expressed annoyance about the state of the going after his Commemorative, sent off at odds-on for the Classic Trial, finished a tailed-off last of four, having raced awkwardly. Hills said the extent of pre-race watering of the track had been a problem for his horse and added that the going should not have been described as good to firm in places.
Andrew Cooper, the clerk of the course, conceded in comments to the Racing Post that the going was no faster than good but pointed out that the home straight was shared with the hurdles course and has therefore been in use all winter. Moreover, that stretch of ground has to be presented in a safe condition for Saturday’s jump-racing card.
