Harley Quarantining for French Derby

Irish jockey Martin Harley is quarantining in a French hotel in order to maintain his association with 3YO colt Derab (Sea The Stars-Concentric, by Sadler’s Wells). Trained by John Gosden, British-bred Derab is a Juddmonte-owned colt who is yet to finish out of the first two from his first three starts, including his most recent outing at Newmarket that resulted in a 6.5-lengths when just into odds-on. Harley, who has ridden in Australia and Hong Kong among his travels, has been in the saddle for all three starts to date, and has willingly given up a week in quarantine to be aboard Derab in the 2400m Gr1 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) over the weekend. Harley told racingpost.com, “Quarantine is fine and I'm hanging in there but it's a beautiful hotel, which makes it easier!” He noted, “It's my first ride in a Classic over here and thanks to John and Thady Gosden for giving me the opportunity”. Harley acknowledged the challenge that lies ahead: “It's a big step up in grade for Derab from Newmarket but the team wouldn't be running him if they didn't think he had a realistic chance of winning."