Desert Crown 'does not have to improve too much more to win the Derby' - Stoute

Sir Michael Stoute believes favourite Desert Crown does not have to improve much from his striking display in the Dante to give him a sixth win in the Derby.

The son of Nathaniel is a general 9-4 market leader to give the ten-time champion trainer his first Derby triumph since Workforce 12 years ago and 41 years since he won the Classic with the mighty Shergar.

Stoute registered a record-equalling seventh win in the Group 2 Dante Stakes when Desert Crown overcame Royal Patronage in stylish fashion at York on just his second career start and, along with 2010 Epsom hero Workforce, is the most inexperienced horse the 76-year-old has sent to the Derby.

Cazoo Derby (4.30 Epsom, June 4): racecard and latest odds

Desert Crown has done just one piece of work since York, which was a loosener over six furlongs, and may well work again later this week.

Stoute said of his chances in the Cazoo-backed contest at Epsom on Saturday week: "He wouldn't have to come on too much. It was a good performance at York that puts him in the reckoning.

"He did surprise me how he won, which was a pleasing performance in a good solid time. If you win the Dante I don't think you have to improve too much more to win the Derby."

The omens are good as Desert Crown sports the same Saeed Suhail blue and yellow colours as Kris Kin, who gave Stoute his third Derby win in 2003.

The Newmarket-based trainer said: "I certainly wasn't confident at York because I felt we were only just ready to go to the races but I knew he did more on the racecourse than at home as he indicated as a two-year-old. In the end, you couldn't fault the Dante performance. It was very efficient."

Desert Crown has been restricted to just two career starts after a setback in February denied him a prep run, since when Stoute and his team at Freemason Lodge have been playing catch up.

The 76-year-old said: "Ideally, we would have liked to get another run into him but he had a bruised foot in the spring. He was just about to start fast work and had a hold up which wasn't too serious but it did delay us.

Desert Crown: shot to the head of the Derby market after an impressive Dante victoryCredit: Edward Whitaker

"We were at York just in time with him and he'll be going to the Derby as the most inexperienced we've ever sent. However, he's a nice athlete with a good attitude. He's done nothing wrong on the racecourse and is workmanlike rather than spectacular at home, which you get sometimes."

Desert Crown has been ridden by Richard Kingscote in his two races, the first of which was a five-and-a-half-length victory in a maiden at Nottingham last November, and the jockey will be on board again at Epsom.

Stoute said of his growing association with the jockey, who will be having just his second Derby ride on June 4: "I can't remember who introduced him but Richard came in and started riding work last year and we gave him some rides and it's expanded from there.

"He's a good rider. He's very professional and very astute. We don't have a stable jockey but Ryan Moore still rides most of them. Richard has ridden Desert Crown in plenty of work and won two races on him. The owner is happy for him to ride and so am I."

Is Desert Crown the Derby winner in waiting? We assess the Epsom favourite

The cricket-loving Barbadian has scaled back from two yards and added: "We've got just the one yard now here at Freemason Lodge, which has capacity for 100. We used to have Beech Hurst as well which was around 160-odd in total, which was enough. You move on and train what you've got.

"Going forward we're a smaller unit these days but as regards the future we'll just play it off the wicket."

Cazoo Derby (4.30 Epsom, June 4)

bet365: 9-4 Desert Crown, 5-2 Stone Age, 15-2 Piz Badile, 8 Changingoftheguard, 12 United Nations, 14 Star Of India, 16 Walk Of Stars, 18 Westover, Eydon, 25 bar

2022 Derby festival offers

• Paddy Power are giving away free bets to new and existing customers, and all you need is an account. Sign up here.
• Sky Bet are offering new customers free bets when they sign up. You can get them, along with money-back specials and extra places, here.
• Betfair have lots of offers, extra places and money-back offers. Sign up for a new account here.
• To get a free bet from Ladbrokes today, simply sign up to a new account here.
• Don't have a Coral account? They have an offer for new customers here.
• bet365 have a new customer offer available. Sign up here.
• New William Hill customers can claim free bets here and benefit from their money-back offers .
• 888 Sport have free bets for all new customers. Sign up here.
• If you're a new customer, Tote will give you a free bet. Sign up here to claim.

Read more on the Derby:

'I'd ride Nations Pride' – Charlie Appleby on Godolphin's Derby dark horse

The trials have been run – so who do our experts fancy for the 2022 Cazoo Derby?

Derby contender Eydon 'not a guaranteed starter' warns Roger Varian

Sign up here. New customers only. First single & each-way bet only. 5p minimum stake. 3 x £10 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets exclude virtuals. Free bets are non-withdrawable. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions and further T&Cs apply. 18+. begambleaware.org.