Derby gamble US Army Ranger strikes on debut
BY TONY MCFADDEN 5:42PM 3 APR 2016
Report: Curragh, Sunday
Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden 1m2f, 3yo
INVESTEC DERBY plunge horse US Army Ranger got his career off to the best possible start and enhanced his Classic credentials when he overcame inexperience to win the concluding maiden at the Curragh on Sunday.
US Army Ranger, who had been backed into a top price of 20-1 for the Investec Derby prior to his debut, won by three-quarters of a length and impressed with how strongly he finished his race, looking as if there was plenty still to come.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien introduced Ruler Of The World in the same maiden prior to his Derby success three years ago and US Army Ranger is now favourite with some firms for the Epsom Classic, his price ranging from 10-1 to 14-1.
Another gear
"Ryan [Moore} said every time he went for him there was another gear there and he said he didn't go to the last gear," O'Brien revealed after the race.
Regarding future plans for the promising horse, O'Brien said: "We'll have horses in the Ballysax next week and the Derrinstown and then Chester, and he could turn up in one of those places for education. If he's going to run in the Derby he'll likely have only one more run and so he'll have to go somewhere to learn."
Classic pedigree
US Army Ranger, who is by 2001 Derby winner Galileo and out of 2005 Irish Oaks winner Moonstone, is certainly bred to be a top-class horse.
He is a half-brother to three black-type winners, including the highly-regarded Words who won a Group 3 last season and competed in the Irish Oaks.
How the race panned out
Despite being heavily supported in the ante-post Derby market, US Army Ranger was not sent off as the favourite as Dermot Weld's newcomer Aasheq also had his backers.
Aasheq was sent off as the 11-10 favourite while US Army Ranger was the 7-4 second favourite in a market dominated by the two horses.
The strong-travelling Aasheq hit the front a furlong out but US Army Ranger, who was coaxed along entering the straight, was seemingly learning on the job and came with a strong late run under a hands-and-heels ride from Ryan Moore to win cosily.
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