Cracksman maintains his unbeaten record

Top 40 entry Cracksman may have needed every yard of the ten furlongs trip in the Investec Derby Trial at Epsom to maintain his 100% record but John Gosden's colt is still very much on course for a return visit to the Surrey track in early June. The son of Frankel, who scored as a juvenile at Newmarket last Autumn, wasn't ideally suited by the steady early gallop and, having been forced to switch to the outside, he allowed Permian first run. Once in top gear though, he stayed on strongly to head Mark Johnston's runner on the line to prevail by a short head. A stronger pace and an extra couple of furlongs will suit Cracksman and it would be no surprise to see him head to York next month for the Dante Stakes. Former stablemate Golden Horn won on the Knavesmire en route to Derby success.

Stablemate Tartini could only finish fourth but he remains a colt of considerable potential. Viewed as a stayer by his connections, he wore a hood when winning at Nottingham last backend. The headgear was discarded here and, while he settled OK, the son of Giant's Causeway lacked the gears when the steady early gallop lifted in the latter stages. Keeping on, he was beaten five and a quarter lengths and, like Cracksman, he will be much more at home over twelve furlongs. It remains to be seen where he heads next but I would view him as an ideal candidate for something like the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot before being prepared for the St Leger. There is a good prize to be won with him.