Hazapour is ridden out by Declan McDonogh© Photo Healy Racing
The Dermot Weld trained Hazapour sprang a 16/1 surprise in the feature at Leopardstown this afternoon, the Group 3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes.
Successful on his second start at Galway last September, the son of Shamardal then finished third to Flag Of Honour and the maiden Giuseppe Garibaldi in the Eyrefield Stakes.
Racing on quick ground for the first time today, and upped in trip to a mile and two, he raced mainly in fourth under Declan McDonogh.
The Aga Khan owned victor came with his challenge on the outer from the two pole, and was ridden to the front with 200 yards left to race, keeping on well from there to score by three parts of a length. Delano Roosevelt who at 9/2 was the outsider of the Aidan O'Brien trained trio, kept on well to take second under Wayne Lordan, while the 6/5 favourite The Pentagon was a neck back in third with Seamie Heffernan aboard.
Weld said afterwards: "He's a very balanced colt and I thought he did it very nicely when he won his maiden in Galway beating Hunting Horn.
"He's developed over the winter and progressed nicely. He worked beautifully the other morning and handles the ground well.
"He's a nephew of Harzand (2016 Epsom and Irish Derby winner) so there is only one logical way to go with him. He's a lovely horse to train - a stayer with speed.
"This horse has very similar characteristics (to Harzand) as he's very tough and genuine. He's very adaptable ground wise, although he may not want very firm ground. It was beautiful ground today, good to firm, which is ideal for him.
"The extra distance at Epsom would be a concern. He's out of a mare by Daylami but he was getting home well there.
"He has a lovely way of galloping, low to the ground, and those sort of horses tend to stay. He settles nicely and relaxes and you can put him anywhere in a race, so he has a whole lot of advantages.
"He has a nice bit of pace and I even toyed with running him in the Amethyst."
Betfair go 14/1 (from 50/1) about Hazapour for the Epsom Derby, while Paddy Power go 12/1 (from 50/1).
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
