Wissahickon and Dettori ease to Winter Derby victory at Lingfield

Ridden by Frankie Dettori, John Gosden’s four-year-old colt won in style ahead of stablemate Court House to earn a fifth consecutive victory and give the trainer a useful 1-2.

The Winter Derby was established in 1998, and is a flat race run annually at Lingfield Park during the all-weather season in the first quarter of the year.

Wissachickon went into the race as the one to watch on the back of victories in seven of his previous nine career starts which included the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket on turf in September and two Listed races over this course and distance.

Knowing he was on the best horse in the race justified by that record and race favouritism, Dettori let his mount find his stride as his stablemate Court House, under William Buick, made most of the running in the mile and two furlong contest.

Dettori asked Wissachickon for his effort turning for home and the pair were soon in command after making his challenge on the outside. Leading over a furlong out, he pulled three and a quarter lengths clear of Court House for a comfortable success. Pactolus stayed on for third place a further three and a half lengths away, just ahead of Big Country.

On this performance and those before, suggestions are Wissachickon has set himself up for even bigger targets with a tilt at racing in Dubai now a possibility.

Victory was also a first win in the race for Gosden, who said: “Normally, we don’t run that many on the all-weather but, after Wissahickon won the Cambridgeshire, Mr Strawbridge (owner-breeder George Strawbridge) was keen to stay here and go for the Winter Derby, and the plan has come off.

“Obviously, there is big race here on Good Friday [with the All-Weather Championships Finals Day] and we will see whether we freshen him up and wait for that, which would be the logical thing to do.

“There is some talk about World Cup Night out in Dubai, but I will have to speak to Frankie, who always has a very strong opinion!

“We might look at the Sheema Classic, if there was an invitation to run in the race. I think he is a mile-and-a-quarter to a mile-and-a-half horse – the mother stayed and he switches off in his races now, while quick, summer ground would be his game.”

Gosden added: “I think there is a chance that Wissahickon could be racing in America next year or the back-end of this season as there are a couple of nice races for him.

“I don’t know whether he would be suited to dirt racing, which is a little different to this surface. He could well be going over there but, right now, I think Mr Strawbridge would like to come over and see him race here again.”

He added of the runner-up: “He has run a lovely race. We will also have a look at Good Friday for him.”

Dettori said: “Wissahickon is getting better with every run and I am delighted with the way he relaxes now.

“He did exactly what he did last time – he ran to his rating and is a horse who is getting better and better with confidence. John is half-toying with the idea that Wissahickon might go out to Dubai.”