The Derby put my dad on the map – now I can make my own mark with 22-1 outsider from ‘ideal’ draw
THE years roll by and the horses, trainers and jockeys change, but the Derby never loses its magic.
You only have to step out the front door here at Park House Stables and you are surrounded by rich Derby history.
GettySun Racing columnist Andrew Balding loves the chances of Bellum Justum in the Derby[/caption]
The turf gallops in Kingsclere have been here for hundreds of years and an incredible 10 Derby winners have been trained on them, the first being John Porter’s Blue Gown in 1868.
Of course, the great race put my dad, Ian, on the map when he won it back in 1971 with the legendary Mill Reef, whose statue still holds pride of place in the yard.
It will always be the most special race in the calendar, and I don’t think you can ever truly feel complete as a Flat trainer until you’ve won it.
It always has been, and always will be, the race we want most.
We’ve been second with Hoo Ya Mal and Khalifa Sat in the last few years and had strongly-fancied runners in Kameko and Bonfire come up short on the day.
However, given how wide open a Derby it is this year, maybe our lad Bellum Justum can be the one who breaks our duck.
I was over the moon when he managed to win the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom in April, especially as we were expecting him to need the run first time out.
Whatever he achieved that day I thought we’d need to run him in the Dante at York a few weeks later to sharpen him up, but there was no need and we have him in good shape at home.
And it was nice to see the third that day, Chief Little Rock, give the form a boost when he came out and bolted up in a Group 3 at the Curragh last week.
Bellum has drawn stall 12 which I’d say is just about ideal, so I’m very hopeful he can run a big one.
We also run the lovely colt Sayedaty Sadaty, who hasn’t drawn so well in stall two, but he is likely to be ridden forward so it’s not too much of an issue.
He is a big price but I am confident he will stay the trip and he is a very talented tough horse – and we have had several hit the frame at big prices in the past.
We have some good chances elsewhere on Derby day, none more so than Portsmouth (1.25) in the opening race.
He has won at the track before and I think there is still a bit of mileage in his current handicap mark.
Enchanting (3.10) is a very speedy filly and should run a nice race in the 3YO Dash, and Relentless Voyager (5.15) has come forward for his comeback run and should be bang there at the finish.
I can’t not mention last weekend’s magnificent result at Wembley when the mighty Saints downed Leeds to get back up to the Premier League.
I watched the match with my great friend Ralph Beckett, who is a huge Leeds fan, and I won’t take the mick too much as you can guarantee he will get his revenge in a big race if I do.
But we played brilliantly and the Southampton support was top-notch. Bring on the new season!
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