Derby Trials By Time

In a similar vein to our Oaks analysis we examine the times of the main Derby trial undertaken this season.

Using speed ratings and sectional timings, we hope to weed out some nuggets of information not immediately obvious to tradition form students.

Derby Trials

Sources: Timeform & Racing Post

Dante Leads The Way
The Dante at York is traditionally one of the strongest Derby trials and this year’s renewal is no different.

The 1-2-3 go again at Epsom and I expect them to finish in the same order. Golden Horn earned a big speed rating at York and he came from furthest back to win the race.

Of the leading trio he ran the most inefficiently (but not by much) and he seems to have that blend of speed and stamina to win the Derby.

Goodwood Form Upgrade
Storm The Stars and Best Of Times are outsiders for the Derby but both ran fine races when finishing 1-2 in the Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood.

The race is no longer regarded as a genuine Derby Trial (the last winner it produced was in 1979) but the first two home earned respectable speed ratings considering the slow early pace.

Best Of Times comes out fractionally ahead after adjusting for sectionals and post-race quotes suggest he might have injured himself in running.

Lingfield Derby Trial Upgrade
Kilimanjaro was a surprise winner of the Lingfield Derby Trail, overturning hot favourite Christopermarlowe but he did so the hard way.