After a nice racecourse run at Epsom on Tuesday morning, Roger Teal has cleared Dancing Gemini to start in the Betfred Derby.
The 2012 Derby hero Camelot`s son, who was twice victorious from five starts as a two-year-old last season, has already nearly achieved Classic success this spring, coming in a half-length second to Metropolitan in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, the French 2000 Guineas, at ParisLongchamp.
There were plans to travel back over the Channel for the French Derby, but after a session on the cambered Epsom course with his elite sprinting stablemate Chipstead, he appears ready to take a shot at the most renowned Flat race in the world on June 1.
Teal said: “I’m very happy, he looked good coming down the hill. Will (Cox) said he handled the track beautifully and although we didn’t go mad, it was a nice healthy exercise. William said it all went well, so I think we will roll our sleeves up and come here. While it’s tempting to go back to France, coming here with a live contender is unbelievable, especially for David Fish and his wife Linda (owners).”
Dancing Gemini will be venturing into uncharted territory by running a mile and a half in the Derby, having never raced farther than a mile before, but Teal is optimistic that his endurance will hold up.
He added: “We had discussions about this possibility last year and deduced that although he’s very speedy, he’s bred to be a mile and a half horse. He has such a relaxed manner you can put him to sleep, and I hope we can use his burst of speed at the finish. The field has thinned out, which helps us a little bit, and I feel we’ve got to have a crack. I have lots of good memories here, as I used to stand in Philip Mitchell’s garden near the start and watch the field go by. It’s very exciting to be involved in the Derby this year.”
Irish jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, who rode Dancing Gemini in the French 2000 Guineas, is expected to meet Teal's stable star again at Epsom the following month.
“Dylan couldn’t make it this morning as he’s riding at Cork, but he’s ridden a Listed winner for Mr Fish and we’ve bought into him because he’s a cool cookie, which is what you need on a big race day,” said the trainer.