Impressive Yeats as low as 7-2 for Epsom Derby
It was a display which had class written all over it and sent the bookmakers scurrying for cover.
Ladbrokes reacted by offering 4-1 for the Epsom Derby, from 6’s, Cashmans travelled exactly the same route, while Paddy Power were even more impressed, tightening the son of Sadler’s Wells to 7-2 from 6-1.
Jamie Spencer, riding at the very top of his form, sent Yeats into the lead from the start, as Dabiroun settled in second.
Dabiroun had run two cracking races this season and might have been expected to give Aidan O’Brien’s imposing colt a real challenge,
The reality, however, could hardly have been different. Yeats bowled along merrily and clearly had Dabiroun’s measure off the home turn.
He lengthened away in style and Spencer was able to sit motionless from the furlong pole. Even then Yeats drew steadily clear, crossing the line a whopping ten lengths to the good.
The likes of Galileo, High Chaparral, Alamshar and Sinndar have all started their three-year-old careers in this contest and the evidence is that another star may have been been born.
Said Spencer: “I am very pleased, it was a nice canter round for him.”
O’Brien has never made any secret of the high regard in which he holds the colt. He said: “He’s such an uncomplicated horse, the Derrinstown (Leopardstown) is the plan. He’s a pleasure to have anything to do with and is a real athlete to look at.
“He was ready to come away for his first run. He’s a big horse and we didn’t train him much to win his maiden last year. He wants better ground.”
Quizzed regarding Yeats’ ability to handle Epsom, O’Brien responded: “He’s a great mover and very well balanced.”
