'We all want to win the Derby, but it takes a type' - William Haggas not sold on Economics Epsom bid despite Dante demolition

Like someone listening to Greatest Hits Radio with a dodgy signal, we don't know whether it is You're The One That I Want or I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For.

We have spent all spring looking for a Betfred Derby winner – a colt who stamps himself above the rest of his contemporaries, the one to beat at Epsom on the first Saturday in June.

Successive trials had failed to excite the senses by throwing up an obvious leader of this generation, bar the ill-fated Hidden Law at Chester, so the betting was still headed by 2,000 Guineas disappointment City Of Troy by the time the richest of them came around.

Then Economics arrived, spectacularly, thrillingly and slightly unexpectedly, with an absolutely devastating display in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes. 

Economics wins comfortably under Tom MarquandCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

The twice-raced winner of a Newbury maiden made a £192,000 Group 2 look like a run-of-the-mill novice, travelling smoothly throughout, moving easily into the lead fully a quarter of a mile from home and bolting clear for a six-length success, despite hanging through palpable greenness.

He would have been 6-4 favourite for the Derby according to Coral spokesman David Stevens. But "would have" is the thing.

He was taken out of the Derby earlier this spring and it would cost £75,000 to add him back in a week on Monday, leaving the decision that will transform the £1.5 million contest in the hands of owner Sheikh Isa Salman Al Khalifa and trainer William Haggas.

Haggas has tended to get these sort of judgement calls right in the past, boldly pitching twice-raced maiden winner Shaamit into the Classic first time out in 1996 and waiting until June of his three-year-old career to run Baaeed, who rewarded that patience by becoming a champion.

And the trainer, who was too busy at home in Newmarket to come to York, admitted he was against Economics going to Epsom.

He said: "The whole point of taking him out was I didn't think it was the right track and the right race for him at this stage of his career. He's a great big, immature horse. And I stick by that.

• What's your view on the Derby market following the Dante? Our experts have their say 

"I haven't spoken on the subject to Sheikh Isa and his advisers so that might change. We discussed it at length when we talked about the Derby. Winning the Derby is of course everyone's dream, we all want to win it, but it takes a type.

"Maybe we're wrong and maybe after I've talked to His Highness he'll say I'd like him to run in the Derby, in which case we'll run him. But we'll see."

Stamina is also an issue and Haggas said: "He's by Night Of Thunder so although he looked like he'd stay an extra furlong and a half, it's not a certainty. It's a win and you're in for the Irish Derby so that could be an option for him if we wanted to go a mile and a half."

Wherever he ends up, there is no doubt that Economics is exciting. Jockey Tom Marquand said: "He exploded into it a lot faster than I thought he might. He surprised me. He jumped over some well-proven, talented horses with real strong formlines. To do that, you have to be a very good horse. 

Tom Marquand and Economics return to the York winner's enclosureCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I got there a country mile too soon so that left him there too far away from the post but he's very talented. He's a strong, powerful horse and stays a mile and a quarter really well."

Marquand finished second in the Derby in 2020 on Khalifa Sat but when asked whether he thought Economics should be supplemented, he said: "He's not my horse, it's not my money, I just ride him and get paid to do so!"

Betfred Derby (4.30 Epsom, June 1)
Coral: 5-2 City Of Troy, 4 Arabian Crown, 7 Ambiente Friendly, 8 Los Angeles, 12 Ancient Wisdom, 16 Diego Velazquez, Voyage, 20 Dancing Gemini, 25 Bellum Justum, Capulet, Caviar Heights, Defiance, Henry Longfellow, Illinois, 33 bar 

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