By Tom Frary
Ballydoyle's form in the Classic trials maintained its formidable momentum on Saturday with a one-two in the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial. At the line, the 4-5 favourite and Ryan Moore's pick Puppet Master had a short head to spare over Stay True in the extended 11-furlong contest, with neither stablemate giving an inch. Camelot's Puppet Master, who had been fourth in the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes and in the G3 Ballysax Stakes on his return, had been forced to battle his way past Stay True, one of the last crop of Galileo, inside the last two furlongs as they pulled 3 1/2 lengths clear of Ghaiyyath's Nightime Dancer.
Paul Smith was on hand to give the lowdown. “They are two lovely horses that hit the line hard, so they get the trip well,” he said. “Puppet Master relaxed well. He is quite an uncomplicated horse and Ryan was very happy with him. As for the other one, he is in the mix for the big races going forward. We will see what happens in Ireland on Sunday and with The Lion In Winter at York. There are other possibilities like the Irish Derby and races at Royal Ascot, so we can spread them around.”
“Richard [Kingscote] was very happy with Stay True,” he added. “He is still a big baby and that was only his second run so he will come on a lot for it. He hit the line very well and he will get a trip nicely so all routes point for a Derby for him as well.”
Great battle in the Lingfield Derby Trial!
Puppet Master and Ryan Moore just about do enough to land the @LingfieldPark Derby Trial from a valiant stablemate in Stay True!
Stewards Enquiry pending… pic.twitter.com/S9ZQOebTkT
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 10, 2025
Puppet Master's dam is Dark Angel's triple Group 3 winner Realtra, whose half-sister Starlite Sienna was responsible for El Kabeir's G1 Fillies' Mile third Bright Diamond and the stable's promising juvenile Neolithic by Sioux Nation. From the family of the G1 Racing Post Trophy hero Seattle Rhyme, her 2-year-old full-sister to the winner is named Emmeleia while she also has a yearling colt by Baaeed who was a 270,000gns purchase by Yeomanstown Stud at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale.
WILLIAM HILL LINGFIELD DERBY TRIAL STAKES-Listed, £60,000, Lingfield, 5-10, 3yo, c/g, 11f 133yT, 2:27.43, g/f.
1–PUPPET MASTER (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Camelot (GB)
1st Dam: Realtra (Ire) (GSW-Eng, MGSW-Ire, SW-Fr, $466,246), by Dark Angel (Ire)
2nd Dam: Devious Diva (Ire), by Dr Devious (Ire)
3rd Dam: Dawn Chorus (Ire), by Mukaddamah
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Barronstown Stud; T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-0, $71,971.
2–Stay True (Ire), 128, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Bounce (GB), by Bahamian Bounty (GB).
1ST BLACK TYPE. (400,000gns Wlg '22 TADEWE). O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith; B-Newstead Breeding; T-Aidan O'Brien. £12,900.
3–Nightime Dancer (Ire), 128, c, 3, Ghaiyyath (Ire)–Stella D'Italia (GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE. (110,000gns Wlg '22 TADEWE). O-Stall Perlen AB; B-GCE Farm Ltd; T-Richard Hannon. £6,456.
Margins: SHD, 3HF, 4. Odds: 0.80, 2.50, 9.00.
Also Ran: Our 'enery (Ire), Prince Of The Seas (Ire), Rogue Impact (GB). Scratched: Rahiebb (GB).
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