Haggas rejects Economics's bid for the Derby

William Haggas has announced that Economics, the clear winner of the Dante Stakes, will not compete in this Saturday's Betfred Derby at Epsom.

The Night Of Thunder colt was scratched from the prestigious Classic before winning by six lengths at York last week. Haggas explained, stating, "I didn't think it was the right track and the right race for him at this stage of his career."

Following his spectacular victory in a crucial Derby trial appeals for connections to augment Economics for £75,000 naturally arose. However, following conversations with owner Sheikh Isa Salman Al Khalifa, Haggas has declared he would not be added to the field on Monday.

He told Nick Luck’s Daily Podcast: “We want to give him more time, he’s a big lovely, magnificent horse. It’s a shame these races come up so quickly and he just needs some more time, that’s my view. He’s Sheikh Isa’s horse, but he’s very respectful of his trainers and he felt with Jake (Warren, racing manager) that we made a team decision. We discussed this at length before the Dante and my view never changed, but obviously, it’s a huge race and with fancied horses falling by the wayside the temptation became greater. The Derby is the Derby and while we might go over a mile and a half later in the year, at the moment we feel that a mile and a quarter is good for him. He’s got plenty of speed, he’s by Night Of Thunder. It’s my job to look after the horse to the best of my ability and if that’s not good enough so be it.”

The Prix du Jockey Club for next weekend has also been ruled out, so preparations for Economics are still tentative.

Haggas added: “We’ll know at the end of the season how well the Dante works out, but I don’t know where we will see him next. I just want to let him mature, he’s an enormous horse and can do so much more physically, that’s what is exciting me. It’s hard enough to get a nice horse, it’s another thing to ruin one. We think and hope the fact he bled at York was because he banged his head on the stall. We’ve scoped him since and it was fine.”