FOLLOWING St Nicholas Abbey’s victory in the Racing Post Trophy Aidan O’Brien looks to have another Derby candidate after Jan Vermeer led from start to finish in yesterday’s Group One Criterium International at Saint-Cloud.
The lightly-raced Montjeu colt is now a best-priced 14-1 second favourite with William Hill, Coral, bet365, Blue Square, Victor Chandler and Skybet.
Seemingly the second string on jockey bookings winning rider Colm O’Donoghue said of Jan Vermeer: “He has a lot of speed and class and did it very easily.”
O’Brien had already won the Dewhurst with Beethoven and the Racing Post Trophy with St Nicholas Abbey, and Ladbrokes spokesman David Williams said: “Jan Vermeer’s win in France certainly wasn’t in the script, but such was the authority of his victory he’s well worthy of a Derby quote. He put a smart looking field to the sword.”
