Derby query for Conquest

Published on Sunday 11 May 2008 22:33

CASUAL Conquest produced a tremendous performance to run out an impressive winner of the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown.

Although the bookies make Casual Conquest their 7-1 third favourite for the Vodafone Derby, he is not entered for the Epsom highlight and it seems more likely he will run in the French equivalent, according to trainer Dermot Weld. It remains to be seen whether the horse’s owners, Moyglare Stud, will step in and pull rank – as well as pull out their chequebooks.

“He’s in the French and the Irish Derby and it’s a great pity the entry fee is too high for the Epsom Derby,” said Weld. “We’ll speak to Moyglare Stud but the French Derby is probably the likely option.”

Casual Conquest, a 13-2 chance, was making his seasonal reappearance in the ten-furlong Group Two feature but evidently lacked nothing for fitness as he readily brushed aside Washington Irving and Moiqen. Casual Conquest turned for home in last place but rocketed to the front well over a furlong from home once Pat Smullen asked his mount to go about his business.

Meanwhile, at Longchamp, Rio De La Plata and River Proud flew the flag for Britain when overcoming difficult draws to take second and third behind 20-1 outsider Falco in the French 2000 Guineas.

The pair were drawn 16th and 14th respectively – although the latter was forced to start from gate 20 on the wide outside after becoming troublesome once loaded into the stall.

River Proud was second-last turning into the sun-kissed home straight and appeared to have an insurmountable task on his hands. Richard Quinn conjured a sweet tune from the Craven Stakes fourth-placed horse, who motored through virtually the whole field to narrowly lose second to Godolphin’s Rio De La Plata, ridden by Frankie Dettori.

The Classic waters may be a bit clearer after York’s Dante meeting later this week although the way things have been going in the trials, it’s more likely they’ll be muddier than ever. A more immediate concern, however, is to end a depressing run of losing naps so over to you, Laa Baas.

Michael Jarvis’s filly was well beaten on her only start as a juvenile but showed a touch of promise nonetheless and a more successful campaign could be in front of her this time round. Philip Robinson heads to Redcar specifically to ride her so fingers crossed he doesn’t have a wasted journey.