Hughie Morrison is agonising over giving Telecaster a supplementary entry into next weekend’s Investec Derby at Epsom.
The impressive Dante winner was removed from the Derby picture in March, prior to his first start on the racecourse.
Telecaster dismissed last season’s champion two-year-old Too Darn Hot at York last week to win the key Derby trial on the Knavesmire on just his third start.
Connections must now fork out £85,000 if they want to have their star re-added to the Derby field. Telecaster is sired by Derby winner New Approach and is out of an Oaks second in Shirocco Star – also trained by Morrison.
His Dante win means he’s currently viewed as the leading British-trained contender for the world’s premier Classic.
While Morrison has no doubts about Telecaster’s ability, he does harbour some worries over the turnaround time from the Dante to the Derby and that means connections will wait as long as possible before making a final call.
“There are only 16 days between [the Dante] and the Derby and you have to be realistic about horses recovering and we will only find out the week after when the adrenaline comes out of the system,” said the trainer.
“We are perfectly happy with him and he is doing everything you would like him to do after a race. We will bide our time until the latest possible point.
“If the horse did run, I would not be able to put my hand on my heart and say that he has fully recovered. It would be wrong of me to say that.
“As a three-year-old, he is definitely the best I’ve trained.” Telecaster is trading at 7.00 to win the Derby at Epsom on June 1.
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