Keith Melrose assesses the first big test of the Derby form in the Gordon Stakes

2.45 Goodwood
John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes (Group 3) | 1m4f | 3yo | ITV/RTV

The first test of the Derby form normally comes at Royal Ascot, but it is perhaps fitting that this year it falls to Goodwood to appraise Epsom, with the two tracks sharing more by way of their character.

Not that the bare form from the Derby is thought to be worth all that much. Debate will rage, probably until the end of the season, as to whether Serpentine was the best horse in the race, but it is not doubted that it was messy and not a true reflection of all involved.

Of the six runners in the Gordon Stakes, four were in the scrum behind Serpentine at Epsom. Best of them was Khalifa Sat, who was rewarded for sitting closer to the pace than most. He finished second, five and a half lengths behind the winner and only three quarters of a length ahead English King, who was fifth. The latter received a much less efficient run, which justifies him being shorter in the betting for this rematch.

Had he not been drawn in stall one at Epsom, English King might have gone off favourite for the Derby on the strength of his deeply impressive trial win at Lingfield. His draw forced Frankie Dettori to find cover and left him a hostage to fortune as Serpentine sailed away down the hill. There is a suggestion that Dettori was among the first to spot what was happening, but he was poorly placed to do anything about it.

The other two Derby runners were Mogul (sixth) and Highland Chief (tenth). The latter flopped, regardless of how the race panned out, and while he looked at least a Group 3 horse when winning a Royal Ascot handicap, he has now landed in a hot Group 3.

Mogul was tracked by English King throughout the Derby but ended up behind that rival. If there is to be a reversal in form, it might have to come off an end-to-end gallop.

Subjectivist: could lead the Gordon Stakes fieldCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

It is not a throwaway line to say the two horses who didn't run in the Derby should not be forgotten about. Subjectivist is a pace angle at the very least and his last three runs have been a third at Royal Ascot, clear second to a horse with his name on a big staying handicap and an all-the-way Listed win.

Al Aasy is more obviously interesting. He was talked up for Epsom as the season began but a poor run at Newmarket scuppered that. His reputation has since been laundered, with a ten-length novice win and a convincing win in the Bahrain Trophy, and he should not have any trouble dropping back a little in trip.
Keith Melrose, betting editor

Key stat

In the past decade only five Gordon runners had previously contested the Derby. Ulysses progressed from finishing 12th in the Classic to winning here in 2015. Red Galileo was fifth to Australia before trailing in last in the Gordon in 2014, while Khalidi finished 14th to Wings Of Eagles before finishing second to Crystal Ocean in 2017. Most recently, Derby second Dee Ex Bee filled the same position behind Cross Counter two years ago.

Haggas hoping to trump Derby form with Al Aasy

The official handicapper has Al Aasy rated 4lb inferior to English King, while the race conditions impose an extra 3lb for his win in the Bahrain Trophy.

But William Haggas is hopeful there are enough positives surrounding the son of Sea The Stars to overcome that inconvenient negative.

"The handicapper went from 91 to 108 so he obviously felt he'd improved at Newmarket, while we've always liked him," he said. "He's got a tough task because he has a penalty and he's taking on two prominent runners in the Derby.

Al Aasy (Jim Crowley, left) wins the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket's July meeting with third-placed Al Dabaran left trailingCredit: Edward Whitaker

"But it'll be a very interesting race and it will tell us where we are. If he can beat them then he's entitled to have a crack at a Group 1 race, wherever that might be. If he's fourth then that also tells us something."

Like English King, Al Aasy comes here as opposed to waiting for York, where he would have raced off level weights.

"I was keen not to wait for the Voltigeur, I think that's too long a break and the horse is really well," said Haggas. "I'm keen to race him. I don't like the penalty but I like the race.

"He's nimble on his feet so I think he'll handle the track. The ground is going to quicken up which will suit him and, bar the penalty, he has a lot of things in his favour."

Al Aasy is a best-priced 10-1 for the St Leger on September 12 but – in common with English King, Mogul and Khalifa Sat – also holds an entry in the Grand Prix de Paris a day later.

What they say

Ed Walker, trainer of English King
He came out of the Derby well and he's in great form. It was always a toss-up between here and the Voltigeur, but top of the ground is quite important to him and we'll take it rather than risk not getting it at York and then having nowhere to go.

English King streaks away from his rivals in the Lingfield Derby TrialCredit: Getty Images

Oliver Cole, co-trainer of Highland Chief
He's been in good form since Epsom, he's fit and well and goes there in great shape. We're all scratching our heads from the Derby but the horse is in good form and should put up a good performance.

Tom Marquand, rider of Khalifa Sat
I'm thoroughly looking forward to it. Being a previous winner at the track is a massive help and he ran an absolute cracker in the Derby, which shows his credentials. It's a tough task once again but I'm hoping he can put his best foot forward.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Mogul
We always thought you would see the best of Mogul on his third run. We wanted to get two runs into him before the Derby and then let the Derby be his third run but we couldn’t with the way things panned out. He’s in good form and we think he has come forward nicely since Epsom.

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