Maltese Cross books Derby ticket with Lingfield victory Maltese Cross enhanced his Betfred Derby claims when edging out Bay Of Brilliance in a thrilling finish to the William Hill Lingfield Derby Trial. William Haggas’ son of Sea The Stars arrived at Lingfield having won a competitive novice heat at Newbury last month and took the step into Listed company in his stride. Tom Marquand was happy to track the pace set by Andrew Balding’s A Taste Of Glory in the early stages, but as the business end of the contest approached, the jockey soon urged his mount forward as both Maltese Cross and Ralph Beckett’s Bay Of Brilliance drew clear. The duo went toe-to-toe inside the final furlong with the 9-4 winner pulling out that little bit extra late on to secure a neck verdict and see his odds for Epsom shorten to 14-1 from 20s with Derby sponsors Betfred. Haggas, who won the premier Classic with Shaamit 30 years ago, said: “I haven’t seen it back fully as I was down at the start, but he was very tenacious and Tom was very pleased and said he had come forward from Newbury. “He’s winning his races which is great and I think we head to Epsom. As long as the horse is fit and well and seems OK, why wouldn’t we? “When you run in a trial, the Derby is the aim and no one will know what the best trial actually is until after the Derby. “I don’t think we have anything to lose by heading to Epsom – it’s the Derby. I think the one thing he will do is stay, whether he stays quick enough is anyone’s guess, but I think he’ll stay.” For winning rider Marquand, it was a performance that boosted confidence ahead of a trip to the Surrey Downs on June 6 having been left to question what was left in the locker after the colt’s previous victory at Newbury. He said: ““He was an extremely exciting horse for us over the winter, having won on his second start last year. “At Newbury I, along with everybody in the team, expected a lot from him and that race probably left a few questions to be answered. He didn’t win by far and you could have thrown a picnic rug over the first six. “The race at Newbury was rated quite well and today he impressed me. He didn’t win by far, but I think he’s just starting to show his racing style. I got more of a feel for him and what he’s about, and it was impressive. “He’s won a trial, and he’s a very interesting horse. He’ll relish the trip in the Derby like he did today. He likes fast ground, and hopefully we’ll get that. We’ll find out whether he’s good enough on the day.” Charlie Appleby’s Maho Bay was the 11-8 favourite but proved another disappointing runner for the yard of late, finishing a never-dangerous fourth of the six starters.
