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Maltese Cross nearly produced Hollywood ending to the Derby
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Sat 6 Jun 2026
While there was no fairytale ending to owner George Waud’s Betfred Derby dream, the Hollywood producer and director could hardly contain his excitement after seeing Maltese Cross fill the runner-up spot in the premier Classic.
Best known for his work on 2006 hit film ‘Snakes on a Plane’, Waud had compared his Lingfield Derby Trial winner to movie legend Samuel L. Jackson in the lead-up to his bid for Epsom glory.
And although the William Haggas-trained Maltese Cross and Tom Marquand were unable to reel in Aidan O’Brien’s Christmas Day, the magnitude of his achievement in finishing second in the world’s most famous Flat race was not lost on his 59-year-old owner.
“We’re all really enjoying this moment, it’s absolutely unbelievable that we’ve ended up in the frame in the Derby,” he said.
“I believed in him and I believed in his bravery. If we hadn’t had this weather it might have been a different story, but it might have been a different story for some other horses, too.
“It’s not the Derby because it’s easy, it’s the Derby because it’s the hardest, most challenging, greatest race in the world – and we just came second!”
The colt’s trainer and rider were equally proud of the performance in defeat, with Haggas saying: “Tom said he ran his heart out. He coped with the ground and Tom gave him a great ride.
“He’s really tough, honest and genuine, that’s what he is, but he’s had a hard race today and it could be a while (before he runs again).”
Marquand added: “Everything went perfect for us. He was feeling fantastic and he took the first two-thirds of the race great.
“It all went smooth and I thought my scrap was going to be similar to Lingfield with the (Ralph) Beckett horse (eventual fourth Bay Of Brilliance), but he just fell off a little bit earlier than ideal to take us towards Christmas Day, but the winner was very good.
“Our lad has run fantastic and George and the team are thrilled. You’d love to be the winner in a race like this, but we gave it a good crack and we’ve got a really fun horse for the rest of the year.”
Having saddled Thundering On to claim a brilliant victory in the Oaks on Friday, Joseph O’Brien this time had to make do with minor honours, with his Leopardstown Derby Trial winner James J Braddock an honourable third, having been very worked up beforehand.
Part-owner Kevin Blake said: “He ran a stormer and we are very, very proud of him. He showed some immaturity in the prelims, but this is the ultimate test of the thoroughbred and the prelims are part of it.
“It’s something that can be fixed. I need to watch it again, but it seemed a really attritional Derby and he hit the line well. It’s only the fifth run of his life.
“To be honest when he started to behave as he did your shoulders do drop a little bit, so it was quiet waiting for the race to happen, but the horse has acquitted himself so well we are so proud of him
“For a horse like him to end up here and be placed in a Derby – we’ve all got such a kick out of it. It’s the greatest race in the world.”
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