John Warren admits “we’ve been chasing our tails” to get the Queen’s colt Reach For The Moon to his intended Platinum Jubilee Derby trial in York’s Dante Stakes.
The John Gosden-trained son of Sea The Stars is currently Ladbrokes’ 8-1 second favourite for the Cazoo-sponsored Epsom Classic on June 4.
Gosden nominated the Dante on Thursday week as Reach For The Moon’s intended comeback.
But Reach For The Moon, whose two-year-old campaign was curtailed by injury, has been slow to come to hand this spring and missed Saturday’s QIPCO 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
“We’ve been chasing our tails to try and get him there,” said royal racing manager Warren. “They’re not machines, so they just take a little time.
“Obviously, he’s in such great hands and John is not wanting to press any buttons too soon. That’s why it’s all delayed, but we’re getting to the point now.”
Gosden used the Knavesmire trial as a stepping stone to Epsom for his previous Derby victors, Benny The Dip (1997) and Golden Horn (2015), and Warren added: “I’ve got to talk to him and the Queen later on.
“We’re going to get our heads round things this evening and then we will make a decision in the next couple of days
“It just hinges on the last few pieces of exercise.”
The colt ran five times as a two-year-old, coming second three times and winning twice, including in the Group Three Solario Stakes at Sandown.
Although she has won the Oaks twice – Carrozza triumphed in 1957 before Dunfermline’s success 20 years later – the Queen has yet to see her famous silks carried to victory in the Derby, coming closest to the prize when Aureole finished second to Pinza in 1953 – her coronation year.
