GODOLPHIN have bought a share in leading Investec Derby hope Jack Hobbs, who will race in the colours of the powerful operation and remain in training with John Gosden.
The Betfred Dante Stakes runner-up, a general 8-1 for Epsom, attracted plenty of admirers when shooting into Classic contention with a 12-length handicap win at Sandown for a three-strong ownership group that included Gosden’s wife Rachel Hood.
John Ferguson, bloodstock adviser to Godolphin founder Sheikh Mohammed, said: "Jack Hobbs has run just three times and has shown remarkable progression. John Gosden, who also trained his sire Halling for us, has a high opinion of the colt. He has loads of scope and class and looks like the kind of horse that will only improve with age."
Godolphin had been short of a genuine Derby candidate with 33-1 chance Best Of Times, who features among the declarations for Friday's Listed Casco EBF Stallions Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood, their shortest priced entry.
Jack Hobbs, who has been ridden by former Godolphin jockey Frankie Dettori on both his starts this season, also holds entries in the King Edward VII Stakes and Coral-Eclipse, as well as the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby after being added to the Curragh Classic on Wednesday.
The deal for Jack Hobbs was brokered by Blandford Bloodstock, whose owner Tom Goff said: "There has been a lot of interest in Jack Hobbs. The possibilities for him are the Derby, the King Edward VII Stakes and the Irish Derby. I believe he's got an exciting future."
Godolphin's policy of snapping up established talent has already paid off this season with Night Of Thunder winning the Group 1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes.
