"We won’t make a decision until we need to" - Economics team still undecided on Derby tilt

Believing his colt still needed time to develop, William Haggas took Economics out of the Epsom Derby field, a few weeks before his run in the Dante. Haggas' star finished fourth on his sole juvenile start, and opened his three-year-old campaign with a narrow maiden triumph at Newbury.

Economics was well-supported ahead of the Dante, with many expecting him to improve for that reappearance. Improve he did, and then some, as Tom Marquand's mount destroyed last year's Futurity Trophy winner Ancient Wisdom to claim a six-length victory at York.

In the immediate aftermath of that Dante demolition, Maureen Haggas still said it was unlikely that Economics would be added back into the Derby field. Maureen said their star had "a leg in every county", suggesting that the undulations and camber of Epsom Downs wouldn't suit. Economics also bled from the nose in the Dante, an injury that was sustained as he shot out of the stalls.

Haggas also stated that the decision to supplement for the Derby would lie in the hands of owner, Sheikh Isa Salman Al Khalifa. On Monday, Sheikh Isa's bloodstock advisor, Jakes Warren spoke to the press and claimed that all options were still on the table.

“It’s very much a case of us making a decision as a team – we are not knee-jerky people. With horses, we all know things can change and being flexible is always part of the ongoing process about how to make the next move.

“At the minute, we don’t have to decide anything, so we won’t make a decision until we need to. When it comes to horses you have to follow these things through and make the decision when you have all of the information. 

"I appreciate that it is not helpful for the public who want to know and want to potentially get excited about him, but we have to make sure we do our jobs properly and having the patience to make the right decision at the right time is part of that.”

"The great thing about working with people like William and Maureen is they take things seriously and they have great judgement. We found out late last year that they thought he was a decent horse, but the truth is I’ve been doing it long enough – and my family has – that you know if you hold too much expectation you can be let down.

“What we know from his pedigree and on what we have seen on the track you have to say he has all the ingredients to be top-class, but until that actually happens it is just a case of hoping. What is fair to say is that he is a horse who has a very exciting future.”

If he was supplemented into the Derby field, Economics would be rivalling current favourite City Of Troy. Despite his flop in the 2000 Guineas, Aidan O'Brien's star was supported back to the head of the market after the key Derby trials.

Boylesports list City Of Troy as their 7/4 favourite, with Economics available at 9/4, despite his absence in the entries. The full betting for the 2024 Epsom Derby can be found here on our website...