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Options open for Native

Image: Native Khan has plenty of options after a fine run in the Derby.

Ed Dunlop was delighted with Native Khan's run in the Investec Derby on Saturday and feels that his grey now has plenty of options.

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Irish Derby could be on the agenda for Native Khan

Ed Dunlop believes that there's plenty more to come from Native Khan after he ran a highly creditable fifth in the Investec Derby on Saturday. The grey was stepping up a full half-mile in distance at Epsom off the back of an excellent third behind Frankel in the 2000 Guineas. The three-year-old travelled strongly for Johnny Murtagh and, while he could not quite pick up as well as last-to-first winner Pour Moi and third-placed favourite Carlton House, he was not beaten far. Dunlop will take his time before deciding on the next target for his exciting colt, but he feels there is much to look forward to. "The horse is fine this morning, which is great news. He has come out of the race very well," said Dunlop. "It was a very good run. He was only beaten two and a half lengths and Johnny said he could have maybe finished a length closer if things had gone his way, but I suppose a few jockeys might have said the same. We're not making any excuses. "It was his first start over a mile and a half and there is certainly nothing to say he didn't get the trip.

Options

"We have the option of going back to 10 furlongs if we wish, but he could stick to a mile and a half. We'll just have to see. "The winner has come from the clouds and was very impressive. He was given a great ride by the young kid (Mickael Barzalona). "We haven't made any decisions on where our horse goes next and we're in no rush. "He's in the Irish Derby and there are various options, but we'll just see how the horse is and go from there. "I think we know we have a horse who has a very decent future. Mr Murtagh was very complimentary about him. "He said he was only just becoming a racehorse, which I know is a funny thing to say about a horse who finished third in the Guineas. "But he was much more grown-up yesterday - he's learning all the time and we're learning about him. I was thrilled with how he took all the preliminaries yesterday."

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