Epictetus wins Listed Derby Trial

George Strawbridge's homebred Kingman colt Epictetus, held off fast-finishing Hadrianus to win the Listed Blue Riban Stakes at Epsom yesterday.

Taken from the European Bloodstock News, 26th April 2023: 

John Gosden had saddled the winner of Epsom’s Listed Blue Riband Trial for four years in a row, including with subsequent four-time Gr.1 winner Cracksman, and, now sharing duties with son Thady, took the honours in yesterday’s renewal with the Kingman colt Epictetus.

The George Strawbridge homebred had made a winning debut before finishing second behind Classic hopefuls Silver Knott in the Gr.3 Autumn Stakes and Auguste Rodin in the Gr.1 Futurity Trophy, though he was made to work for yesterday’s victory. He tracked the leader around the inside of the track in the five-runner field and moved up to lead as the runners came across to the stands’ side in the home straight. Hadrianus challenged hard, but was always held by the winner, who beat him by three quarters of a length. There was the same distance
back to the third, the race-fit filly Cite D’Or.

Entered in the Gr.1 Derby and Gr.1 Irish Derby, the winner will head next for the Gr.2 Dante Stakes, according to Gosden senior, who said: “It was very testing conditions today. It was very deep and he hasn’t trained in anything like that this year. Frankie [Dettori] said he was a little bit lonely in front and he got to the front sooner than he wanted.

“He has wintered well and is a grand horse, but he hasn’t been training on that. He has gone and done it well and shown a good attitude, but just in the end he was looking about a bit and getting tired.”

“We had this pencilled in for him all year. We will go to the Dante Stakes, which is what James [Wigan, owner George Strawbridge’s racing manager] wants, and take it from there. He may well be more a Prix du Jockey Club horse. Certainly his pedigree might indicate that. We will get to the Dante and make a decision.”