Mirsaale may well have booked his place in the field for the world’s most famous Flat race after landing the English Derby Trial at Epsom.
The Trial offers wildcard entry into the Derby itself for any winning colt, not that it matters to Mirsaale, who had already been entered in the mile-and-a-half Classic by fledgling trainer James Tate.
Sent off at 5-1 having shown some promising form as a juvenile, the three-year-old quickened up to pass Gabrial’s Kaka in the straight and stayed on determinedly in the final furlong to hold the late burst of Another Cocktail by a length-and-a-half.
“He is bred to take to Epsom, as he is by a Derby winner (Sir Percy) and he’s a half-brother to Meeznah, who was a close second in the Oaks before being disqualified,” Tate said.
“He’s already entered in the Derby and he’ll definitely be going there, all being well.
“It is just a question of whether we get another run into him beforehand.
“He’ll be entered in the Dee Stakes and the Chester Vase, as well as the Lingfield Derby Trial.
“If he goes anywhere, he’ll go for one of those, but we’ll not lose sight of the big prize.”
The Ebor at York is a potential long-term target for Andrew Balding’s Beyond Conceit after he justified 3-1 favouritism in the Great Metropolitan Handicap under a fine front-running ride from Jamie Spencer.
