The Sea The Stars colt was seen as a legitimate contender after his victory in the Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes on May 8.

This meant that Third Realm had a perfect record of two wins from two races on the Flat this season, facilitating odds of 14/1 for the Derby.

Impressive beginnings

In his first career race in November 2020, Third Realm finished fifth out of 14 runners in the Unibet/British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes. He was priced at 16/5 but finished three-and-a-quarter lengths behind the winner, Lord Protector.

Third Realm came into 2021 with high expectations and started strongly, winning the Racing TV Profits Returned to Racing Maiden Stakes at Nottingham on April 17. Priced as the 5/2 favourite, he ran well and led inside the final furlong to claim a maiden victory.

On May 8, Third Realm claimed victory in the Novibet Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield Park. Ridden for the second straight race by jockey David Egan, Third Realm claimed the biggest win of his young career. Priced at 14/1 he beat 6/5 favourite Adayar by one-and-a-quarter lengths.

Adayar was to get his revenge in the Derby though, leaving the other contenders in his wake. Third Realm finished in fifth-place, over 11 lengths back after failing to make an impression inside the final furlong. This time he was ridden by Andrea Atzeni, who had guided him to fifth-place in his maiden race last year, with regular jockey Egan aboard the runner-up, Mojo Star.

Connections

Trainer Roger Varian has a win percentage of 20% over the last five years, securing over 500 wins from more than 2,500 races. He is a British Thoroughbred racehorse trainer based in Newmarket. He is in his 11th season and has amassed over 950 career wins.

During his career he has trained seven major winners with the highlight of his career being winning the St Leger Stakes in 2014. He also won the Lockinge Stakes in 2016 and the Coronation Cup in 2016 and 2019.

He is most well known for his global superstar Postponed, who was crowned Timeform Champion Older Horse in 2016 and finished his career with an official rating of 124 in the World's Best Racehorse Rankings.

Jockey David Egan has been around horse racing his entire life. His dad, John Egan, has ridden more than 1,000 winners and is still competing at the age of 52. The 21-year-old has ridden over 270 winners in Britain including winning twice on Third Realm.

Andrea Atzeni, meanwhile, has a win percentage of 17% over the last five years, having guided over 380 winners in more than 2,300 races.

Pedigree

Third Realm was sired by the Irish horse Sea The Stars, with his dam being Reem Three.

Sea The Stars is considered to be one of the greatest horses of all-time. The Irish Thoroughbred is best known for winning the 2000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby and the Eclipse Stakes in 2009, becoming the first horse to achieve the treble since 1989.

In the same year, he also won the Juddmonte International Stakes, the Irish Champion Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He is also a half-brother of Epsom Derby winner Galileo.

Reem Three was not as successful as a racer but did have three wins and two second placed finishes during her short career.

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Trainer Roger Varian had high hopes for Third Realm ahead of the 2021 Epsom Derby, but a fifth-place finish proved to be disappointing.

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