Title Role reads the script with Belmont Derby success

Ed Crisford felt the track played into the hands of Title Role as they made the trip to the United States a winning one in the Belmont Derby on America’s 250th birthday.

The Coolmore-owned colt struck at the highest level for the first time, racing prominently throughout and laying down his challenge in the hands of John Velazquez on the turn for home as he held off a late bid from West End Kid by a nose to land the £305,000 prize.

The son of Too Darn Hot has only raced three times in Britain, but improved his record on his international travels to five wins from six outings.

Charlie Appleby’s Pacific Avenue could only finish seventh of the 10 runners.

“July 4 is a huge day and it’s fantastic. I’ll be celebrating with everyone,” Crisford, who trains in partnership with his father Simon, told Bloodhorse.

“That last furlong, he was treading water but he’s a super tough horse. He really suits these turning tracks.

“We thought this horse would particularly like two turns around here. Physically, he’s very nimble and well-balanced. We thought it would well suit him. A lot of the European tracks are galloping, straight miles. He has this really good, sort of an electric turn of foot. That’s why we came here.

“I thought he would stay. It’s only an extra furlong and a lot of jockeys had said it wouldn’t be a problem.”

The Donnacha O’Brien-trained Kensington Lane made all to strike in the Belmont Oaks.

The Starspangledbanner filly, who won the Group Three Athasi Stakes at the Curragh in May, came home one and three-quarter lengths clear at 23-1 to make a winning Stateside debut.

Appleby’s Abashiri challenged Kensington Lane for the lead early on, but eventually finished eighth after weakening.

Phillip Shelton, racing manager for co-owner Medallion Racing, told Saratoga Racecourse’s official website: “We were a bit surprised she was such a big price.

“She was beaten by Abishiri last time. What we knew is she wants firm ground, and we thought the way she runs in Europe, a turning track would suit, and she just bolted up. In this business, plans don’t work out very often, but this time it did.

“In Europe, she’s forward. She was basically on the lead in the Irish Guineas. Talking to Joel before, he said, ‘it doesn’t look like there’s much speed on paper’. Given the way she’s broken out of the gate in Europe, we thought she could be forward. I told him, ‘we want her to be within a couple lengths of the lead, if she ends up on the lead because nobody goes, that’s fine’.

“He opened up by three [lengths] and I was hoping he didn’t go too early, but it never felt like he had to get into her too hard. She appreciated the circumstances of the race.”