CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD shocked hot favourite New London in the Boodles Chester Vase - and is now 8-1 for the Cazoo Derby at Epsom on June 4.
Punters sent Charlie Appleby's unbeaten New London off the 4-11 favourite for the Group 3 Derby trial – the winner’s Aidan O’Brien-saddled stablemate Ruler Of The World won both races in 2013 – but Changingoftheguard left the hotpot trailing in his wake with an all-the-way six-and-a-half-length victory.
Ryan Moore, whose mount had been 20-1 for Epsom at the start of trading yesterday, said: “He was very impressive today, and he beat a well-regarded colt.
“You never know with these three-year-olds - as they go up in trip, how much they are going to improve for it – and obviously it suited him.
“He's only just beginning to come, so we wouldn't be sure where he's going to end up, but it was a very good performance today.”
The son of Galileo had landed odds of 4-9 in a Dundalk maiden over an extended 10 furlongs at the beginning of last month and O’Brien – the Ballydoyle stable houses the 2-1 Derby favourite in 2,000 Guineas third Luxembourg – added: “We always thought he would stay well.
“We weren't sure about the ground when it rained, as he’s such a fluent mover, but he seems to have handled it fine.
“Off the back of that you’d have to say he’d go to Epsom now.”
O’Brien welcomed his first British winner of 2022 as Thoughts Of June fended off Above The Curve, trained by son Joseph, by a neck for the Listed Weatherbys Bloodstock Pro Cheshire Oaks to earn a 10-1 for the Epsom version on June 3.
“She’s an honest filly and she stays well,” was Moore’s post-race verdict.
