Having proved to be a major player in the Sagitta 1000 and 2000 Guineas last weekend, Blewbury trainer Gerard Butler will be hoping he will have a big say in the Vodafone Derby following the success of Saddler's Quest in the Gartner Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield today.
Compton Bolter's fifth place in the first colts' Classic and Princess Ellen's performance when runner up to Lahan in the fillies' version proved Butler's ability to get horses ready for the Classics.
Saddler's Quest now goes to Epsom unbeaten and with quotes ranging from 14-1 (Corals) to 33-1 (Ladbrokes), following his neck victory over Going Global.
He will to attempt to emulate High-Rise, winner of this race two years ago before grabbing the premier Classic at Epsom.
'We hit the post a couple of times last week, now we've hit the back of the net,' said Butler on greeting his winner.
'We'll take him home and treat him like a king now.'
Kevin Darley will continue the partnership at Epsom despite Frankie Dettori having ridden Saddler's Quest on his previous two outings.
Darley produced the Saddler's Hall colt with a storming run to collar the Sean Woods-trained runner up close home.
'I thought he went there a bit too soon but he timed it well,' said the trainer. 'Kevin thought he had got there but I had my doubts.
'Frankie did a good job educating this colt at Kempton but he was not available today and I said whoever rode him today would stay with him for the Derby.'
Dettori was on board Godolphin hope Dubai Two Thousand who held a good position round the final bend but found nothing in the straight, finishing sixth, beaten around 12 lengths.
It was a bad afternoon for the Italian who lost his irons and had to ride cowboy style in the preceding Mer Car Polish Chartwell Fillies Stakes after his mount Auratum almost came to grief coming out of the stalls.
It was the first time the 7-2 second favourite had ever behaved in such a fashion according to Dettori.
'She was as good as gold in the trials in Dubai but for some reason she started to freak out here,' he said.
'She was sweating and flipped over before she went into the stalls.
'As we came out she was on her quarters and I lost the irons.
'Unfortunately I had a light saddle and was unable to regain them so I thought 'just accept the situation and don't be a hero'.
'It was very unfair for the punters but these things happen.'
The race went to Yorkshire raider Hot Tin Roof who stayed on strongly under Kieren Fallon to deny Scarlett Ribbon by two and a half lengths.
Fallon was in fine form having instigated a 30-1 treble with victory on the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Pentagonal in division one of the Testers Of Edenbridge Maiden Stakes.
The champion jockey completed the three timer with an emphatic nine length victory in division two of the maiden on The Queen's Spinning Top (4-6), also trained by Stoute.
The winning trainer said: 'She has always pleased us from the first time she went into strong work. I like her a lot.'
The daughter of Alzao could now be aimed at the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.
However, there will be no trip to Epsom for Film Script who carried the Royal colours to victory in the Victor Chandler Oaks Trial.
Despite her brave performance in repelling the challenge of the John Dunlop-trained Dollar Bird by half a length, the Unfuwain filly will not be supplemented for the fillies Classic next month according to winning trainer Roger Charlton.
'She won't be supplemented because she's not good enough,' he said. 'The runner up was rated 88 and the winner 90 so she would have to find around 30lb to have a chance at Epsom.
'She's won a Listed race and now we'll try a Group Three, possibly the Lancashire Oaks. This race wasn't very strong and we tried to get some black type which worked.'
Dettori's woes multiplied when Adjutant, on whom he was due to replace the injured Ray Cochrane, landed the Havana Horse Handicap Stakes.
The Italian's escapade on Auratum had left him feeling uncomfortable and he cried off the rest of his mounts following the Derby Trial.
That left Michael Tebbutt to grab the glory on Adjutant who Nick Littmoden is aiming at the Bunbury Cup.
San Salvador, a well-backed 2-1 favourite, ran away with the Tote Scoop6 Sprint (Showcase Handicap) under claimer Adrian Nicholls.
Jeremy Noseda's charge, who came home nine lengths ahead of the Mark Johnston-trained Awake, has an entry in Royal Ascot's King's Stand Stakes but is likely to have an outing prior to that according to his trainer.
