So Mi Dar takes Derby Trial

So Mi Dar (3/1) beat the boys to win the Investec Derby Trial and she's among the favourites for the Investec Oaks.

John Gosden's filly had won her sole start as a juvenile and returned to produce a thoroughly taking performance, holding off the staying-on Humphrey Bogart (12/1) without Frankie Dettori being able to ask her a serious question, the rider having dropped his whip just over a furlong out.

Heavily-backed favourite Claudio Monteverdi was eased when beaten having briefly taken up the running and eventually finished a distant fourth, with Viren's Army taking third.

Gosden said: "We are delighted with her. She was a little gassy early on but Frankie dropped her out and got her settled nicely, then he threw his whip away.

"She started idling in front, which is a good sign, and she just was pushed out hands and heels.

"We came here to see if she would handle the track and with a bit of luck she will go to the Musidora (York) then hopefully come back here for the Oaks.

"The ground was soft enough for her and she will be better on better ground."

Dettori was also suitably impressed and felt there could be more improvement to come.

He said: "I rode her in some work the other day and she gave me a good feel. It was a big task, taking on the colts, but she is very neat and compact.

"She just run a touch green three out but at the two-pole I had them covered, then I lost my whip.

"Once in front she idled a bit but she still had something left.

"If I could have given her a back-hander I could have pulled away. She is a quick learner and a good traveller.

"She is entitled to be there (Musidora) and I think there is more to come from her."

All the money pre-race had been for Claudio Monteverdi, who started odds-on having been available at odds-against earlier in the day, and things looked to be going well for jockey Ryan Moore as he settled just behind the pace-setting Beaverbrook.

As Top Beak challenged the leader on the outside turning for home, a gap emerged for the favourite and he briefly hit the front despite having engaged in a barging match with the eventual third.

However, all the time So Mi Dar was finding her stride on the outer and when she began to pass those in front of her, it soon became clear that the sole remaining danger came from behind as the held-up Humphrey Bogart ate up the ground.

But despite Dettori losing his whip, the beautifully-bred daughter of Dubawi was able to hold on by a neck, promising to improve again for the experience.