Maltese Cross books Derby ticket with Lingfield victory as Cameo makes waves in Oaks market | Racing News

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.

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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.”

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.

Cameo performance makes waves in Oaks market

Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore continued their hot run of form by winning the William Hill Oaks Trial Fillies’ Stakes at Lingfield for the second year running with Cameo.

The Ballydoyle combination enjoyed a fabulous Chester May meeting, winning all five big races, and after Amelia Earhart announced herself as Oaks favourite on the Roodee, O’Brien could have himself another Epsom contender after Cameo obliged backers in style at odds of 100-30.

With Charlie Appleby’s 11-8 favourite Romantic Symphony bitterly disappointing and failing to get involved, Cameo was able to track stablemate Bloom (Tom Marquand) into the straight before asserting over Andrew Balding’s running-on Prizeland late in the piece for a four-and-three-quarter-lengths victory.

The winner was made 12-1 from 40s by Oaks sponsors Betfred, while Paddy Power went slightly shorter for the Irish equivalent at 10-1.

O’Brien was not at Lingfield, but stable representative Chris Armstrong was watching on at Naas, from where he said after Ballydoyle had struck in the opener on that card: “She was very impressive. Obviously Tom’s filly suited going along in front and then Cameo got a lovely trail into it.

“In fairness to her, when Ryan asked her to knuckle down she went away. Wayne (Lordan) rode her the first day at the Curragh and felt going up in trip and better ground would suit. Those were the two factors she got today and in fairness she was very impressive.

“She is a lovely big, strong, imposing filly and she is bang in the Oaks mix now.”

Moore was suitably pleased with his mount, and added: “Today was the first time I’ve ridden her. She’s a scopey filly, and handled the track well and did everything right,

“She picked up well from a long way out and kept going. She is a filly that will get better as the year progresses.

“She is a filly that will keep improving and you never know where they can end up, but I love everything she did today and would say she will get better.”

Royal Velvet takes Group Three honours at Lingfield

Seven-furlong specialist Royal Velvet could have booked her ticket to Royal Ascot when continuing on an upward curve in weaving her way to William Hill Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes victory at Lingfield.

William Knight’s five-year-old began her year by winning a competitive handicap at Newmarket and was trying Group Three company for the first time in the hands of William Buick.

Buick was stuck on the rail in mid-division in the early stages, but manoeuvred himself in the perfect position to pounce two furlongs from home and having found the ideal opening the 11-8 favourite stormed home to down the front-running La Brodeuse by three-quarters of a length.

Knight said: “She’s just been nicely progressive and it’s nice to get some important black type on her page. I’m delighted and she’s certainly enhanced her paddock value.

“She’s took the move up in grade well and William has given a beautiful ride there. We were conscious not to get caught in on the rail and he made sure he angled out for a run and he gets on so well with her.”

Although Royal Velvet’s most recent successes have come over seven furlongs, she has previously won over a mile and could now be poised to again step up in distance with a trip to the Royal meeting for Group Two action at that distance entering the equation.

Knight added: “Where we go now I’m not entirely sure and on the seven-furlong Pattern there is not a load of fillies’ races. We might have to consider stepping up to a mile and she’s given us plenty of food for thought.

“The Duke of Cambridge at Royal Ascot is sort of what I’ve got in the back of my mind and she’s doing us all proud at the moment.”