Better ‘Days’

With John F Kennedy (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) going to York and the soft ground sending Zawraq (Ire) (Shamardal) elsewhere, Sunday’s G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown has lost some gravitas and it may be that this renewal is below the usual standard of one of Europe’s most influential Classic preps. If there is to be a savior, it could be Robert Ng’s dynamic G3 Ballysax S. scorer Success Days (Ire) (Jeremy) who bids to become the fourth-straight winner of this venue’s two Derby trials. Leaving the subsequent winner Zafilani (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) and John F Kennedy trailing in the Ballysax, the grey has trainer Ken Condon dreaming of bigger things. “I’ve been pleased with him since the Ballysax and he’s in good shape,” he told PA Sport. “He’s very undemonstrative work-wise at home, he just seems to come to life on the track. We’re at the stage where we don’t know how good he is. From what we can see of him at home, though, he’s progressed. This is a great time of year with all the Derby trials going on, but our aim remains the second entry stage of the [G1] Irish Derby which is May 20. That’s the plan and then we’ll just hope for soft ground at The Curragh.” Aidan O’Brien relies on a duo to provide an 11th edition, with Michael Tabor’s Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) leading the charge and he was second in this track’s Listed Eyrefield S. over nine furlongs when last seen in October.