Derby Hopes For Moonlight Magic

Moonlight Magic will run in a Derby after winning the G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial 10 furlongs at Leopardstown, Ireland, on Sunday, May 8.

The three-year-old Cape Cross colt, trained by Jim Bolger and partnered by Kevin Manning, returned to form after being beaten on heavy ground in the G3 P W McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes over the same course and distance on April 10.

Moonlight Magic raced as third of the eight runners who were taken along by stable companion Saafarr with Ronan Whelan up.

Saafarr was headed entering the straight as Moonlight Magic came through to take second before going to the front with a furlong left.

He kept on well to beat Shogun by a length and a quarter in 2m 7.74s on ground described as good.

Jim Bolger sent out St Jovite to win this Derby trial back in 1992 and that colt went on to finish second in the Investec Derby at Epsom Downs.

The trainer commented: "I have to discuss everything with Godolphin and reach a consensus but if it was left to me I would be very keen to go for the Investec Derby (G1, 12f, June 4).

"I have always held him in high regard. We kept him until the end of last year when he won his maiden and the form of that race was good. Then he won a Listed race.

"I got it wrong the last day here when he was not on the top of his game and we paid the price for it.

"But he has bounced back today. He is a very classy horse and will stay a mile and a half but I wouldn't mind dropping him back to a mile either - he has plenty of toe.

"Moonlight Magic was as good today as St Jovite was when he won the Derrinstown but then he did not win at Epsom, he was second.

"I have a proper Derby horse."

Kevin Manning added: "I have always thought an awful lot of this horse, but he disappointed me last time when the ground was very heavy.

"Moonlight Magic has come back and shown me what I thought he was. I think stepping up another two furlongs will be a huge plus.

"He may be more of a Curragh horse (Irish Derby, G1, 12f, June 25) rather than an Epsom horse, but I definitely think he has got a future."