Quite Cheeky sparked Classic dreams for his connections after maintaining his unbeaten record in the Betfred Derby ‘Wild Card’ EBF Conditions Stakes at Epsom.
A winner on his debut on the Surrey Downs two and a half weeks ago, the William Haggas-trained colt was a 7-2 shot to follow up in a one-mile contest which provides the winning horse with an automatic entry at the initial entry stage for next year’s Derby.
Always travelling well in the hands of Cieren Fallon, the son of Teofilo was produced to challenge Sword Salute inside the final two furlongs and the further he went the better he looked, with Fallon able to ease down as he passed the post with a length and three-quarters in hand.
Andrew Tinkler, racecourse representative for the Haggas team, said: “He did well on his debut here and it was nice to come back. This was a slightly deeper race, but he has coped with conditions well and proved that he copes with the track.
“The step up in trip looked to be within his compass after winning on his debut and, being by Teofilo, it is something he has taken in his stride.
“The governor does all the race planning, and he is a genius at that, so I leave that to him, but it is good for the progression of the horse to come here again and continue to learn while winning.”
Paddy Power make Quite Cheeky a 66-1 shot to win the premier Classic on the first Saturday of June for owner Tim Bridge, chairman of British pub and brewing company Greene King.
Tinkler added: “We will see what the horse tells us regarding the future, but it is great to have another nice two-year-old on our hands.
“Of course, it is great for Mr Bridge as he is an enthusiastic gentleman, and he is a great friend of the boss, so to have a really nice horse for him is fantastic.
“He has a nice future, but let’s enjoy today.”
Haggas and Fallon doubled up for the day with the Cheveley Park Stud-owned Matins, who followed summer wins at Salisbury and Yarmouth to complete his hat-trick as a 4-7 favourite for the Betfred ‘Bet Builder’ Handicap.
Cheveley Park’s managing director, Chris Richardson, said: “I thought he was harshly treated off 95 after winning a match race. He has shown today that he has grown up a lot.
“What I liked today was that he was grown up in the paddock. He was totally chilled and did no shouting. Cieren was impressed.
“I’ve actually got him in the horses in training sale, but he might not be in there anymore and we might have to have a look at a Listed race for him.”
Freddie Mitchell won the Betfred ‘Nifty 50’ Jump Jockeys Derby Handicap on Gary and Josh Moore’s 12-1 shot Zarakerjack.
The winning jockey, who is the brother of Group One-winning rider Jack Mitchell, said: “I lived here until I was 15 or 16 and I probably rode 60-odd Derby winners on my Shetland pony at night when all the grounds keepers had gone – I must have been past that winning post a fair few times!
“Having grown up here it is a pretty cool place to ride a winner. Hopefully I won’t be known just as Jack Mitchell’s brother anymore!”
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