Betfred Blue Riband Trial |
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| Epsom Downs 14:40 £60,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 1m 2f 17y, Class 2  |
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1 Saxon Street 5/2
2
Rebel Rocker 33/1
3
Balzac 15/2
6 ran Distances: 2½l, 1¼l, 4l
Time: 2m 9.27s (slow by 3.37s)
The unbeaten Saxon Street (Saxon Warrior) lands Listed honours on his return, running out a good winner of the @Betfred Blue Riband Trial Stakes for @WilliamBuickX and John and Thady Gosden @EpsomRacecourse pic.twitter.com/B51kavguf7
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 28, 2026
Saxon Street enhanced his growing reputation and maintained his unbeaten record with a polished display, prompting bookmakers to cut him to 25/1 for the Betfred Derby.
Run a week later than scheduled following a broken watering system at Epsom, the delay may yet prove a fortunate quirk should Saxon Street attempt to emulate Blue Peter, the last winner of this trial to go on and claim Derby honours back in 1939.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the son of Saxon Warrior had previously shown promise when scoring on debut at Chelmsford City in December and took a marked step forward here.
Sent off the 5/2 second favourite, he was confidently handled by William Buick, who delivered him to the lead entering the final furlong. From there, Saxon Street asserted in decisive fashion, stretching clear to beat Rebel Rocker by two and a half lengths, with Balzac a further length and a quarter back in third. The 4/5 favourite New Zealand never threatened and trailed home in fourth.
Thady Gosden said: “I thought it was a big jump up coming here today.
“He won a novice at end of last year and came here without a prep run. He is still very much learning on the job. It was a new place here today, but he settled into it very well and won nicely in the end.
“Epsom is a great track to learn at, and he was in good form and working well at home. After discussing it with his owner, we thought this was a good place to start him off at.
“The Ballydoyle (New Zealand) horse set the standard and there were some nice horses in the race but he has done it well. He has some stamina in his pedigree, and he should stay a mile and a half no problem.
“Whether we go straight there or have another run over a mile and a quarter next time, we will see how he is and come to a decision.
“There is plenty of water to go under the bridge before the Derby, but he had done it well today.”
Derby Trial (Listed)
£60,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 1m 2f 17y, Class 2
6 ran
Going: Good
