Epsom or France for Massaat A final decision has yet to be made on whether Qipco 2000 Guineas runner-up Massaat will bid to go one place better in the Investec Derby at Epsom. The Teofilo colt found only Galileo Gold too strong in the Rowley Mile Classic earlier this month and trainer Owen Burrows felt the winner upheld the form when filling the runner-up spot behind Awtaad in the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday. The Lambourn-based trainer expects his stable star to line up in the world's most famous Flat race on Saturday week - but the option of a late switch to the French Derby 24 hours later remains open. Burrows said: "He's a likely runner at Epsom. It hasn't been confirmed yet, but I'm training him for the race and it will either be that or the French Derby the day after. "I'm very pleased with him - he seems in very good form. "You'd expect some improvement from Newmarket and I thought Galileo Gold didn't run a bad race at all in Ireland over the weekend on ground that probably wasn't ideal. "The first two were nicely clear of the third and the winner is obviously very smart, so it will be interesting to see what happens at Royal Ascot." Whether Massaat heads for Epsom or France, he will be stepping up beyond a mile for the first time. The Derby at Epsom is run over a mile and a half, with the Prix du Jockey Club a mile-and-a-quarter race. "His breeding is there for everyone to see and even without looking at his breeding, all the signs are that he should stay," said Burrows. "I worked him over 10 furlongs yesterday (Sunday), Paul Hanagan rode him, and he galloped right to the end. "You obviously never know until you try, but we're looking forward to stepping him up in trip. "How far he'll be stepping up in trip next time, we'll have to wait and see."
