Haggas' Lysander has Goodwood Cocked Hat test ahead of Derby
Goodwood
William Haggas could not be in better form and his Lysander has a British Stallion Studs EBF Cocked Hat Stakes test at Goodwood on Friday, May 20 before the Epsom Derby.
William Haggas is in scintillating form and will test Lysander's Epsom Derby credentials by taking on the British Stallion Studs EBF Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood on Friday, May 20.
The New Approach colt has only had two runs so far, placing third in a novice stakes at Newbury and then smashing a similar event at Newcastle on the all-weather, where he won by a full eight and a half lengths.
Odds-checkers will notice Lysander shortening for the Classic on the Epsom Downs on June 4 and Haggas is keen to see if the horse named after the Shakespeare character has more than a Midsummer Night's Dream of Derby glory.
Harry Herbert, chairman and managing director of owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing said "It is a big day on Friday with Lysander running in the last of the Derby trials,"
"He is a very exciting horse from what we have seen at home, and we are going to have a look on Friday to see if he is a Derby horse.
"He is a very exciting prospect. Roger (Varian) liked his horse (Sonnerie Power) who was third behind him at Newcastle and while it was a small race, there were a couple of fancied ones in there and he put the race to bed.
"He comes with a big reputation, but we'll see. It's time to find out and then go on to the next level."
Meanwhile, Natural World, another Cocked Hat fancy, trained by Charlie Appleby, is not going to the Derby but will hope to improve on a third in Lingfield's Derby Trial.
"Natural World has posted two pleasing efforts to date and came out of his race at Lingfield well," Appleby told the Godolphin website.
"He looks to have come forward mentally for that run and any improvement on that performance should make him a big player."
David Menuisier's Lionel is a general third favourite at Goodwood and is hoping to get revenge on Natural World after a Newbury maiden defeat.
"I think we would be quietly confident of turning around form with Natural World from Newbury," said Menuisier.
"There is a lot going his way, to be honest, so fingers crossed. I would not want to run him on rattling fast, but it is not going to be that. It is a matter of seeing what he does and take it from there."
