Horse racing: Gelding Goldoni takes Derby trial

THE decision of Derby sponsors Investec to award a place in the Classic itself to the winner of their trial at Epsom yesterday rather backfired when the race was won by the gelding Goldoni (13-2).

Geldings are not allowed to take part in the Derby, but trainer Andrew Balding still believes his charge has a bright future and can aim him at other top races after winning the Investec Derby Trial in good style.

Several, including the 9-4 favourite Cameron Highland (third), failed to handle the soft ground and David Probert pushed his mount a length and three-quarters clear of Mister Music.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It saves Investec some money,” said Balding. “He was a pretty useful horse anyway but he has improved a lot for being gelded and should have a good season. He’ll probably run in the Lingfield Derby Trial now and then the King Edward VII at Royal Ascot.”

The meeting – run in horrendous weather – began on a bright note yesterday with the news that Investec will continue to back the Derby Festival until 2021 after agreeing a ten-year extension to their current deal with Epsom.

The firm began sponsoring the two-day meeting, which features the Derby, Oaks and Coronation Cup as its headline events, in 2009 and they still have a year to run on their existing contract. However, Investec and Epsom have now sealed a deal which represents the biggest sponsorship agreement in British racing history.

The extension will see the Investec Derby reinstated as the richest race in the UK offering a prize fund of £1,325,000 in 2012 with significant boosts for the Oaks and Coronation Cup prizes already announced last month.

Epsom’s managing director Rupert Trevelyan said: “We are delighted that Investec have agreed to extend their sponsorship for a further ten years. They are a fantastic brand to work with, very forward thinking and proactive, and we will continue to work in collaboration with them to develop the Investec Derby Festival.”

Scott Dixon could briefly boast an unbeaten record at Epsom after Cadeaux Pearl powered through the wind in the Investec Specialist Bank Handicap. Kieren Fallon was a notable booking for the new trainer, and the 25-1 shot had a fitness advantage on many of his rivals over the downhill five-furlong track as he had been kept on the go during the winter.

Fallon always had Cadeaux Pearl handy and bustled him past Taajub and Taurus Twins to win by a length. “That’s my first winner from my first runner here,” said Dixon. “I thought he’d like the track – I was a bit worried whether he’d handle the soft ground but he loved it. We knew he was fit but he’d ruined his chance at Windsor last time as he bolted before the start. I think he needs to be fresh, so we’ll just see how he is.”

John Gosden’s Aiken resumed his upward curve in the Investec Great Metropolitan Handicap. Successful on his final three starts last year at Chester, Sandown and Ascot, Aiken had been put away in order to save him for better options as a four-year-old. It took him a little while to get accustomed to the Epsom cambers with William Buick needing to persuade the 100-30 favourite but, once he hit the front with a couple of furlongs to run, he sailed clear.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

First Avenue was even slower to hit top gear but closed dramatically in the final stages to finish a neck behind.

Gosden said: “The problem we had as a three-year-old was that, once you reach a handicap mark of 90-plus, you can’t find a race for half the season, and that’s a problem. He has trained well this spring and it was a good effort on that ground. The Great Met is a good prize in its own right – I used to come here with my old man to see it.”

Right Step was produced with a withering late run by Jim Crowley to claim the lucrative Investec City And Suburban Handicap. The Alan Jarvis-trained five-year-old was last seen finishing down the field over hurdles at Aintree and handled these softer conditions with aplomb.

Crowley rode a patient race on the 14-1 chance, still well back as the field rounded the home turn. The front-running Halfsin, the strongly-supported Ittirad and 2009 John Smith’s Cup winner Sirvino were battling it out for the lead two furlongs down.

But Right Step finished strongly to trump them all, passing the winning line with a length and a half in hand over Sirvino.

Jarvis said: “He’s incredibly genuine. He’s got a name for himself for always coming second but he’s just been unlucky. He could come back here for a race he’s been second in before, or go to a race at York he was also second in.”

SELECTIONS

Perth

2.00 Jet Master (nap)

2.30 Aikman

3.00 Ros Castle

3.30 Degas Art

4.05 Special Portrait

4.40 Trustan Times

Beverley

2.10 First Bid

2.40 Kodicil

3.10 The Fun Crusher

3.45 Lady Macduff

4.20 Party Line

4.55 Swnymor

5.25 Barbarella Blue

Wolverhampton

1.50 Until It Sleeps

2.20 Chjimes

2.50 Tigerino

3.20 Overrule

3.55 Aldedash

4.30 Karate

5.00 Fault

5.35 Jack’s Revenge

Brighton

4.35 Christopher Chua

5.10 Reberty Lee

5.40 Finch Flyer

6.15 Lightning Spirit

6.50 Salient

7.25 Rigolleto

7.55 Huzzah

Double

Jet Master 2.00 Perth

Degas Art 3:30 Perth

Related topics: