Dubai: Trainer Charlie Appleby believes that the improved mental toughness and maturity that Godolphin’s Epsom Derby (Group 1) hopeful Masar has acquired will play to his strengths when he chases a historic victory in Saturday’s world famous race.
Godolphin have yet to win the English blue riband in their own Royal Blue colours, with their only victory being when Lammtarra, representing Shaikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum triumphed in 1995.
Masar, who has drawn stall 10, the most successful gate since starting stalls were introduced in the Classic in 1967, faces 11 rivals including five representing Irish powerhouse Aidan O’Brien.
O’Brien’s quintet are headed by ante-post favourite and English 2,000 Guineas (G1) hero Saxon Warrion, who is bidding to give the master handler a record equalling seventh Derby success.
However, Appleby comes to Epsom brimming with confidence.
“It’s been noted that Masar is much more mature mentally these days,” he told the Godolphin website. “The travel to America and Dubai has benefited him. He’s grown up a lot. I think he has the right mind to go to Epsom.
“As we all know, it’s a big stage there and it can be a challenge to a lot of horses. But what I’ve seen in Masar of late is a colt who is much more grown up. He is taking all the preliminaries well.
“If he conducts himself at Epsom. as he did at Newmarket, it is going to be a big plus. On pedigree, he should stay, and he is now mentally where you would like a horse who is stepping up in trip to be,” he added.
“Hopefully, this will give William (Buick) every chance of settling him early and ensure he gets the trip. He’s a very well balanced horse, and he learnt plenty on those right bends at Del Mar (in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile) last November,”
Meanwhile, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, takes a shot at Epsom glory with a colt that won his maiden at the notorious track as a two-year-old last October.
Trained by Mark Johnston, Dee Ex Bee caught the eye when finishing a threatening second to fellow-Derby contender Young Rascal close in the Chester Vase last month.
