Rampallion Earns Derby Quotes

A long-held plan bore fruit at Newmarket on Friday afternoon when Rampallion took the opening contest under Jimmy Fortune.

Trainer John Gosden was left with a content look on his face after the 5-1 favourite made up plenty of ground in the final stages to win going away in the 340th Anniversary of Horse Racing in America EBF Maiden Stakes.

The son of Daylami looked to have it all to do when running out of room at the two furlong pole and losing several lengths in the process.

But, without having to ask his mount too serious a question, Fortune stoked the winner up and brought him home to beat Sandglass by three-quarters of a length.

'I have had this race in mind for him for a couple of months and it´s nice when a plan comes together,' said Gosden. 'He is a nice type of horse and he has done well to win having been taken back a bit with a couple of furlongs to run.

'He is entered in the Derby and although I wouldn´t read too much into that when it only costs #250 to put them in at the yearling stage, I hope he is the sort of horse who would be kept in at the next stage.

'He might be a bit leggy for Epsom but we´ll have to see.

'I´d like to start him off in a mile-and-a-quarter conditions race at Newbury next April (run this year as the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup Conditions Stakes and won by The Geezer).'

Rampallion earned a unanimous 33-1 quote from the bookmakers for next year´s Vodafone Derby.

(C) PA Sport