Saxon Street impresses at Epsom to enter Derby discussion

Saxon Street remained unbeaten with a comfortable success in the Betfred Blue Riband Trial Stakes at Epsom on Tuesday.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the Saxon Warrior colt is yet another three-year-old to emerge for the Clarehaven team which has started the 2026 season in fine form.

The same cannot yet be said of Aidan O’Brien’s Classic crop, with New Zealand another short-priced favourite to fail to run up to the form he showed at two, just like Pierre Bonnard, Action and Albert Einstein.

William Buick was on Saxon Street and was content to sit in behind the leaders until a furlong and a half out and while New Zealand had briefly hit the front, it had been hard work and he was soon treading water.

Saxon Street (5-2) ultimately pulled two and a half lengths clear of Rebel Rocker, who outran his 33-1 odds on just his second start. Coral cut the winner to 20-1 from 66-1 for the premier Classic, with Betway going 25-1.

“I thought it was a big jump up coming here today,” said Thady Gosden.

“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 horse (New Zealand) 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 has done it well today.”

Jamie McCalmont bought Saxon Street on behalf of Marc Chan for €170,000 from the Goffs Orby Sale in October 2024 and was happy with what he saw: “He did everything as you would have liked to have seen, in the last 150 yards he really seemed to get what the game was about.

“What he has beaten in his two races to date I wouldn’t really know, but he looks a nice horse for the future.

“There will be no pressure from Marc or myself to run him in the Derby. We’d first need to see how he comes out of this race, as ideally he would run again before it.

“But we are very happy to be guided by Thady and John. They are very well stacked among the three-year-olds this season and they will know better than anyone what is the right thing to do.”