Hazapour bursts onto Derby scene

Hazapour sprang a shock in the Group 3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown, overcoming Ballydoyle colts Delano Roosevelt and The Pentagon and booking his ticket to the Investec Derby at Epsom

Ridden by Decan McDonogh, the 95-rated Shamardal colt edged past favourite The Pentagon at the furlong-pole and stayed on to beat Delano Roosevelt by three-quarters of a length with the well-backed favourite a neck away third.

Hazapour carries the colours of his breeder, the Aga Khan and trainer Weld, winning the Derrinstown for the ninth time (a haul spanning no less than thirty-eight years), was adamant about plans for the 16/1 shot: “He’s a nephew of (dual Derby-winner) Harzand and the only logical place to go with him is Epsom.”