Charlie Appleby thinks Ancient Wisdom, his runner, will benefit from gentler ground in the Betfred Derby.
In the York Dante, Economics defeated Ancient Wisdom by six lengths on favourable conditions that did not suit the Dubawi colt.
After winning the Group Three Autumn Stakes at Newmarket and then going on to win the Group One Futurity Trophy on heavy ground at Doncaster just two weeks later, the Godolphin-owned three-year-old showed that he liked cutting in the ground.
After that race on the Knavesmire, Appleby, who saddled Derby winners with Masar in 2018 and Adayar in 2021, likes what he has seen and believes he has a genuine chance because of the weather in his favour on the Surrey Downs.
After Notable Speech won the 2000 Guineas, the in-form Appleby has already experienced Classic gold this season. Rebel's Romance made an impressive showing in the Champions and Chater Cup in Hong Kong over the weekend added to the celebrations of Group One success.
“He’s a past Group One winner in the Futurity Stakes at Doncaster in very soft conditions we know there were that day,” Appleby said in a video update posted on Godolphin’s X page. “I was happy with his reappearance in the Dante. There was a very good winner (Economics), but I felt this horse was going to show plenty of improvement there with all the right signs. He relishes the slower ground and the forecast being potentially the way it is he will hopefully encounter that on Saturday. Therefore it will enhance his chances. William (Buick) sat on him this morning and the whole team is delighted with how the horse has progressed from his first start as a three-year-old in the Dante to where we are today. We’ve got a horse there who is going to be a live contender.”