Saturday's Winter Derby a springboard to Bahrain target for Gosdens' Military Academy

Leading Winter Derby fancy Military Academy will use Saturday’s contest at Southwell as "a springboard" to a valuable race in Bahrain next month.

The son of Fastnet Rock, who is 7-4 second favourite with Paddy Power behind Aimeric’s stablemate Royal Champion for Saturday’s ITV televised contest, completed his prep when breezing on the Al Bahathri Polytrack at second lot on Wednesday under Luke Catton.

Joint-trainer John Gosden said: “Military Academy is in good shape and the plan is to run him in the Winter Derby at Southwell on Saturday as a springboard to the Group 3 The King’s Cup in Bahrain on March 7. He is owned by Bahrainis so it has been the long-term plan to run him out there.”

Unraced as a juvenile, Military Academy was progressive as a three-year-old last year when winning three of his four starts, culminating in a convincing defeat of the classy Aimeric on his first all-weather start in the Listed Floodlit Stakes at Kempton in November.

Military Academy (Robert Havlin) wins at Hamilton Park last AugustCredit: john grossick

Robert Havlin, who rode the four-year-old to success on his debut at Hamilton last August, will be back in the saddle on Saturday in the absence of Kieran Shoemark, who will be in Saudi Arabia to ride Witness Stand for Richard Newland and Jamie Insole. Shoemark won two races on the four-year-old when he was with Tom Clover last year.

The Gosdens won the Group 3 Winter Derby with Lord North in 2023, when it was last staged at Lingfield over its original trip of 1m2f. Their stalwart was unable to follow up a year later at its new home, where it is now run over 1m3f due to the layout of the Tapeta track.

BetUK Winter Derby Stakes (3.15 Southwell, Saturday)

Paddy Power: 5-4 Royal Champion, 7-4 Military Academy, 7-2 Persica, 8 Champagne Prince, 12 Old Harrovian, 18 bar.

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