Epsom held it’s annual Breakfast With The Stars at the track yesterday and trainer John Gosden revealed that that last week’s Group 2 Betfred Dante Stakes winner Roaring Lion (6/1) will take his place in the Investec Derby on Saturday, June 2.
Gosden, interviewed on the phone by lead presenter Nick Luck, reported the go-ahead following Roaring Lion’s impressive success at York.
The three-year-old son of Kitten’s Joy was a good fifth behind Saxon Warrior in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, having raced up the stands’ side rail in the Newmarket mile Classic, and finished a neck second to Aidan O’Brien’s charge in the G1 Racing Post Trophy, also over a mile, at Doncaster in October.
The French Derby was under consideration for the three-year-old colt, but Gosden revealed that owner Qatar Racing is keen to head for premier Classic at Epsom, with his blessing.
The Newmarket trainer declared: “Roaring Lion will run in the Investec Derby.
“I just like to see how horses are after a race before making grandiose plans. We are thrilled with the horse (after the Dante), he ate up and I had to put someone on him to for a trot as he was playing so much.
“Roaring Lion is in splendid form and the owner is very keen that he goes for the Derby, so that is exactly where he is going and I think that’s the right choice.
“He paid a compliment to Saxon Warrior in the Dante. In a thoroughbred, you need speed – you don’t win a Derby normally by outstaying them at one pace. You need a turn of foot and this horse has it.
“Will he stay the mile and a half? I don’t know. The Derby usually sorts out the non-stayers.
“Roaring Lion is in great form and is very athletic. I had a difficult spring with him and he was not at all tuned for the Craven Stakes. He came on a lot for the 2000 Guineas – he wound up racing on his own outside the heart of the race, but I was still thrilled with his run. I have always longed to run him over middle distances.
“Hopefully, we can get back to the Racing Post Trophy form and get involved with Saxon Warrior – that would be extremely exciting.”