Rab Havlin front of queue to pinch top ride on massive Epsom Derby chance Ambiente Friendly
CALLUM SHEPHERD is fighting to keep the ride on leading Derby hope Ambiente Friendly.
The Lingfield trial winner is just 4-1 for the June 1 Classic at Epsom yet the man in the saddle is yet to be confirmed.
Young gun Shepherd, 26, partnered the horse to strike impressively at Lingfield on May 11 and also rode him in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket in April.
Yet owner Tim Gredley’s phone has been non-stop with offers to ride the horse from big names in the weighing room.
And it is understood Gredley is weighing up whether to book Rab Havlin for the ride.
Experienced Havlin, a staple for John Gosden over the years, is two from two in the Gredley silks this month and a guaranteed cool head.
The rider, 50, won his second Group 1 on Saturday when making all on Audience to shock his fellow jocks in the Lockinge.
Fanshawe is understood to be keen to keep Shepherd on board but is keeping his cards close to his chest.
He told Sunracing: “The ride is yet to be confirmed. I don’t really want to go down this route, Mr Gredley is your man for that.”
With Guineas no-show City Of Troy an unconvincing 7-4 favourite, this year’s Derby is a wide-open affair.
Dante winner Economics still needs to be put back in the race at a cost of £75,000 with a decision set to be put off until the weekend.
It means Fanshawe’s colt is hot property headed into June 1.
He said: “The horse is very well, I’m happy.
“He’s done everything right since Lingfield.
“We didn’t want to gallop him at Epsom as he only ran ten or so days ago and he’s not a horse you need to work a lot.
“Running at Lingfield is about as close as you can get to going to Epsom. The tracks are very similar in many ways.”
Fanshawe added: “It’s great to have a live Derby contender. There’s a bit of added pressure, of course, but you would rather be in this position than not.
“There’s a real buzz about the yard at the moment and we’ll get him there in the best shape we can.”
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