Monday 10 May 2021
Third Realm, a three-year-old son of SEA THE STARS, was the convincing winner of the LR Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield on Saturday. The colt, who was bred by his owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, was earning his second victory in as many starts this year.
Third Realm’s trainer Roger Varian said after the race: “He ticks a lot of the boxes in that he’s won a recognised trial, it looks like he’ll get the trip and he’s won on good-to-firm ground at Nottingham and in pretty testing conditions today. He’s a neat, well-balanced colt who ought to handle the undulations of Epsom.”
“It’s the nature of the business that you’re cautiously optimistic when you’re going from a maiden to a recognised trial, but it isn’t a surprise—he’s a colt we think a lot of.”
His jockey David Egan added: “He may have been the outsider of the field, but going down the semi-back straight I had it in my mind I was going to win. He gave me a great feel all the way around. I had to jump him out quick as I was drawn on the outside, but there was a nice pace which helped. I thought he showed a nice turn of foot on the home bend but, fair play, he stayed on well up the straight.
"He's a top-class horse and it's hopes and dreams at this point, but there's no reason he couldn't run in a Derby."
Third Realm became the 76th Stakes winner of his sire SEA THE STARS, who was a superb winner of the Derby himself 12 years ago and has since sired two Epsom Classic champions, Derby winner HARZAND and Oaks winner TAGHROODA.
Updated on 10 May 2021.
