Desert Crown impresses under big-race jockey Richard Kingscote in key gallop

Cazoo Derby ante-post favourite Desert Crown delighted connections in his last serious piece of work before Epsom in a specially-arranged gallop in Newmarket on Thursday morning.

The Dante Stakes winner was ridden by his big-race jockey Richard Kingscote on the watered gallop after Sir Michael Stoute was granted special permission to use the nine-furlong facility on a day when the shutters are normally up.

Desert Crown, a best-priced 9-4 for the Derby on Saturday week, burst around five lengths clear of Group-winning stablemate Solid Stone, who was ridden by Ted Durcan, in front of a small huddle of on-lookers that included owner Saeed Suhail's racing manager Bruce Raymond.

Desert Crown and Richard Kingscote before their workout

"Everybody was very pleased with him. It was a beautiful surface and he worked with Solid Stone and went very nicely – you couldn't have wished for more," said Raymond.

"He hasn't done much since the Dante – this was the strongest and fastest he's gone since York – and I don't think anybody would swap him for anything."

Ideally, Stoute would have preferred to have Desert Crown on the round gallop on the famous Limekilns, but with the ground there being quicker than ideal he boxed over his pair to a deserted Rowley Mile car park before the exercise that took place a little before 6.30am.

The opening up of the watered gallop on a day it is always closed was a joint decision by Jockey Club Estates and the Newmarket Heath Committee in order to serve the best interests of Newmarket with such a high-profile horse. The town has already bagged the first two domestic Classics and is in a good position to add the next two to the tally with Desert Crown heading the Derby market and Emily Upjohn favourite for the Oaks.

Stoute is an infrequent visitor to the watered gallop but did make use of it for the preparation of the last of his five Derby winners, Workforce in 2010, as well as King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Harbinger.

On the evidence of his latest piece of work, Desert Crown is beginning to show at home what he does on the racecourse and was not stopping at the end of this workout, just as he finished off well at York, having been given the office by Kingscote two furlongs out.

Solid Stone and Desert Crown before their workout

It looked a successful exercise all round with the son of Nathaniel enjoying a smoother preparation than was the case in the build-up to his return in the Dante.

"He hasn't been the most spectacular work horse, but he hasn't been doing too much before that," said Raymond. "He was only just ready for York, three weeks before and he wouldn't have run anywhere. I think he surprised Sir Michael with the way he won there."

Earlier in the week, Stoute expressed his confidence in Desert Crown when saying he does not believe his contender has to improve much from his striking display in the Dante to win the Derby.

The 76-year-old trainer won the Epsom Classic for the first time 41 years ago with the mighty Shergar and on the back of just two starts Desert Crown is the most inexperienced horse, along with Workforce, he has sent to the Derby.

Cazoo Derby

Ladbrokes: 2-1 Desert Crown, 5-2 Stone Age, 7 Changingoftheguard, Piz Badile, Nations Pride, 12 Star Of India, 14 United Nations, Westover, 16 bar

Cazoo Derby (4.30 Epsom, June 4): racecard and betting

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