Ektihaam boosts Derby credentials

Ektihaam may have well created a problem for his trainer Roger Varian by running a brave second to Bonfire in yesterday's Group Two Dante Stakes, the premier trial for the Epsom Derby. The son of Invincible Spirit has certainly boosted his prospects for a shot at English racing's blue riband event on June 2 with that performance but will now have to be supplemented at a cost of £75,000 (Dh435,600) as he does not have a Derby entry. Ektihaam is owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, who has won the Epsom showpiece twice with Erhaab in 1994 and Nashwan in 1989.After yesterday's race British bookmakers cut the colt's odds for the Derby to 12/1 (from 33/1) and made Bonfire a 5/1 second favourite behind 2,000 Guineas star Camelot (11/10). Bonfire may have dominated the Dante with his imposing performance and should go to Epsom with solid chances but Ektihaam looks a suitable candidate to handle the idiosyncrasies of the Downs given his long stride and galloping style. John Gosden's highly-regarded Fencing finished third while Godolphin's leading Epsom hope Mandaean failed to establish his big-race credentials and will most certainly miss the boat. In recent years Shahrastani, Reference Point, Motivator and Authorized won the York feature en route to achieving Derby glory for their connections. Bonfire's trainer Andrew Balding was delighted with the way his colt battled for victory and told Racing UK: "It was very good. I was getting a bit uncomfortable with all the hype because he's not a brilliant work horse and he's done it in flashes this spring, so it was a relief to get him out. "He behaved like a professional most of the time and he did it very well in the race. [Jockey] Jimmy [Fortune] was very impressed. It was a truly run race and a proper trial. Encouraging "The second has had a run already this season and Jimmy felt we were getting a little leg weary inside the final furlong, not through lack of stamina but through lack of race fitness so that is all the more encouraging. "We've only got just over a fortnight, but as long as he comes out of this well, we've got to give Epsom serious consideration. "It's key at Epsom to get a position and it looks like he's got the ability to do that. But what do I know I've never had a Derby runner." Fortune added: "He travelled very well, he travelled like a good horse. He was probably in front long enough but he held on.