Swagman stakes Classic claim in Sandown trial

Swagman provided Aidan O’Brien with a rare victory in the bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown.

While the master of Ballydoyle tends to make a habit of winning Derby trials at Leopardstown, Lingfield and York, he had only won this Group Three once before with Imperial Monarch in 2012.

Andrew Balding’s Windlord set out to make all under Oisin Murphy but Ryan Moore did not let him get too far in front of the winner.

As Windlord began to hang just over a furlong out, Moore brought Swagman with a strong-looking run on his outside.

Damysus began to make ground up from the rear and Windlord kept on battling, but Swagman (9-2) held off Windlord by three-quarters of a length.

The winner was paying a compliment to Jessica Harrington’s Hotazhell, who had Swagman behind him twice last year.

“We were delighted with him. He’s a horse that has done well since last year, we always thought a mile and a quarter would suit him well,” said O’Brien.

“We thought he would come forward plenty from the run too, so we’re delighted with that.

“He started growing on us last year, that was why he hadn’t run since July, he just kept on growing and he’s turned out a much bigger horse this year than last year.

“The French Derby is a definite possible. At this stage, we are just trying to get them all started really and see where they all fit in.

“Obviously he’s run well there, the horse who ran at Epsom, Trinity College, ran well and then the first Leopardstown Derby trial (Ballysax) Delacroix won well – and then we’ve got the Guineas colts as well, so we’re just trying to see where they all slot in.

“It’s nice to have options.”

Moore said: “He only had three runs last year but his last one was a very good run at Leopardstown in the Tyros and he’s obviously been off a very long time since.

“He’s done very well from two to three and when I got on him in the paddock, I thought he’d really got stronger.

“They went along at a good even pace and he was a little bit green in places, but once he started coming off the bend, he travelled very nicely to the two-furlong pole and showed a very good attitude in the last quarter of a mile. He was always getting there and doing what he had to do.

“He’s a lightly raced horse and with that being his first run since last July, hopefully he will continue to improve and you would be very positive about everything he did today.

“The way he races, I would say a mile and a half wouldn’t be a problem, but I don’t think he needs to go a mile and a half. He’s a nice horse to look forward to.”