Dallas Star (right)© Photo Healy Racing
Adrian Murray’s impressive Ballysax Stakes winner Dallas Star has been given the option of lining up in the Betfred Derby having been added to the Epsom Classic at Wednesday’s second entry stage.
The son of Cloth Of Stars won one of his five starts for Dominic Ffrench Davis last season, acquitting himself well when upped to Group company in the Zetland Stakes at the end of the year.
However, he took his form to a new level when reappearing for his new training team in Leopardstown’s early-season Derby trial, springing a 50-1 shock in the hands of Seamie Heffernan and handing some well-regarded colts a convincing beating.
He already holds an entry for the Curragh’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, but is now also in the picture for the Epsom equivalent after connections paid the £12,000 to add the Amo Racing-owned three-year-old to the line-up.
“It’s unbelievable and the last day he was very good and has to deserve his chance for going at something like the Derby, so it’s an exciting time,” said Murray.
“He’s done very well since his race and we’re very, very happy with him, he’s progressing nicely.
“I don’t know if he will run again before the Derby and I’ll have a chat with Kia (Joorabchian, owner) and Robson (Aguiar) and see what they think. Kia is the owner at the end of the day and the main thing is we have him in the Derby, that’s his main target.
“We did have him in the German Derby, but we took him out of that. So he’s going to be going for the English and Irish Derbies now, all being well. He’s all class and a lovely horse.”
Charlie Appleby’s Hidden Law was also added to the Derby picture following a taking victory at Newbury on Saturday, while 69 remain in the race with 22 trained in Ireland and Andre Fabre’s Roadshow the sole French-trained possible.
Five departed the scene on Wednesday with Paddy Twomey’s Deepone and Aidan O’Brien’s Navy Seal taken out, along with internationally-trained trio Alrazeen, Common Defense and Justin Milano.
