Damysus on ‘fact-finding mission’ in Classic Trial

It could be an informative afternoon for the horse named after the fastest of all the giants, with Damysus set for a significant step up in class for Sandown’s bet365 Classic on Friday.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained Derby entrant made the perfect debut at Southwell prior to Christmas and will now bid to live up to his speedy namesake in Greek mythology in this Group Three event.

“He’s a promising horse and he’s a colt we’re of course looking forward to, but we just have no idea how good he is and we’ll learn a lot more on Friday” said Richard Brown, racing adviser to owners Wathnan Racing.

“He’s very lazy at home and whatever he does he will be much sharper for the run because he’s just a very laid-back character. He’s probably going to be one who shows a lot more in the afternoon than he does in the mornings.

“It’s a bit of a fact-finding mission, but I have no doubt he will step forward plenty for the experience.”

While Damysus may be the untapped potential in the line-up, the proven form belongs to Andrew Balding’s Windlord, who appeared twice at the Esher venue as a two-year-old and finished his juvenile season with a close-up third in the Curragh’s Beresford Stakes.

Balding has won this three times since 2015 and the son of Dubawi will attempt to continue the fine start to the Flat turf season for both his trainer and owners Juddmonte, with connections keen to see what the colt can offer over this new distance.

“The trip is a little bit of an unknown. We always felt he would get 10 (furlongs) and his running style would suggest he will, but his pedigree is a little bit inconclusive,” explained Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon.

“We felt last year that he stayed well and 10 would be within his compass. He’s wintered well and his work is pleasing, so we’re looking forward to seeing him on the track.”

On whether the Derby trip might be a stretch too far, he added: “We’re hoping and we’re all going to learn together. He relaxes well and his run style would suggest that he could stay a mile and a half, but his pedigree would suggest that he won’t.

“He’s in good form and his two-year-old form is rock solid with that last run in the Beresford, finishing third behind two Group One winners. He’s a nice colt and we’re looking forward to him.”

It was Ralph Beckett who linked up with Juddmonte when winning this with Westover in 2022 and the Kimpton Down handler this year saddles both Sir Dinadan and I Am I Said, with the latter impressive on debut at Newmarket at the back-end of last season.

The field of five is wrapped up by Aidan O’Brien’s Tyros Stakes runner-up Swagman.