Enable's half-brother takes to the turf in exciting maiden stakes

Me2 Club EBF Future Stayers' Maiden Stakes | 7f | 2yo | SKY

Connections have tempered their enthusiasm as Enable’s half-brother Derab makes the first appearance of his career in Ascot’s Me2 Club EBF Future Stayers’ Maiden Stakes (3.05).

The son of Sea The Stars will race in the same green and pink silks of Khalid Abdullah as his illustrious relative, the 11-time Group 1 heroine Enable, who makes her likely farewell appearance in Britain in the Group 3 Unibet September Stakes at Kempton on Saturday when she faces six rivals.

Most pairs of eyes are likely to be focused on Derab during the 7f Ascot race, which has attracted 15 runners, including some well-bred types.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Derab’s owner, is looking forward to the colt’s debut, but warned: “He’s quite a backward sort and is just coming on now.

“We are not expecting any fireworks at Ascot, but John [Gosden] has been pleased with him lately. He has improved every time he has worked. We’re hoping for a nice run.”

Alastair Donald: 'Roger says Greatgadian has been training well'Credit: Laura Green/Tattersalls

Gosden, who won the race 12 months ago with Enemy, has booked Martin Harley for Derab, with Frankie Dettori at Kempton to partner the stable’s Kingman colt Megallan – an impressive winner on his Newmarket debut last month – in the 7f novice stakes.

There are some potentially useful youngsters in opposition to Derab, with the Roger Varian-trained Greatgadian just one who takes the eye.

The fact that Varian has entered Greatgadian in the Group 2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket later this month – Derab does not figure among those entries – suggests he is a colt with considerable ability.

Alastair Donald, racing manager to King Power Racing, owners of Greatgadian, said: “Roger says he’s been training well and he should handle the ground at Ascot.

“He is bred to get further than seven furlongs and Roger has entered him in the Royal Lodge, which is encouraging.”

Charlie Appleby is represented by La Barrosa, a son of Lope De Vega, while Richard Hannon’s Escobedo sets the standard on form, having finished a promising third over the Ascot course and distance last month behind Laneqash.

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