Headquarters third set to line-up in Epsom Classic
A highly respectable third on his seasonal return at Newmarket over the weekend was enough to book Rugged Cross' place in next month's Investec Derby.
Thomas Barr's colt, who is trained by Henry Candy, was beaten a neck and three-quarters of a length by joint-favourites Thought Worthy and Noble Mission in the poptelecom.co.uk Fairway Stakes.
That pair both had the benefit of a previous outing this term and had Derby aspirations of their own, while Rugged Cross was making his first appearance since winning a valuable maiden at the York Ebor meeting.
"I was very pleased with his run - he was a bit rusty and I think if he'd had a previous run he might very nearly have won that race," said Candy.
"He will run (in the Derby) and he won't have to do a lot of work after that, as that was a pretty serious bit of exercise."
Rugged Cross is available at as big as 50-1 with many bookmakers for the Derby at Epsom on June 2.
