Film producer George Waud is heading to Epsom after Maltese Cross booked his ticket to the Derby with a thrilling triumph.
The racing owner, with hits including Snakes On A Plane and Terminal to his name on the big screen, witnessed his colt edge out the determined Bay Of Brilliance in the William Hill-backed Lingfield trial to earn a quote of 14-1 with the firm for the big race on June 6.
Waud, a chairman of multi-racing syndicate business Old Gold Racing, had a share in Grade One-placed miler Society’s Chairman when he lived in America and also enjoyed Listed glory in Britain with the George Boughey-saddled Englemere at Newbury in 2024.
But Maltese Cross is the best yet for the husband of celebrity make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury, after positive reviews from jockey Tom Marquand about his Classic claims.
“We are going to the show!” said Ward on ITV Racing, thanking Sam Haggas and Gavin Chengalanee who helped him source the son of Sea The Stars, himself a Derby hero in 2009.
“It’s inconceivable ending up with such a good one. It is quite emotional really. They (the team) just had a feeling about him.”
Haggas, who secured the premier Classic with Shaamit 30 years ago, went down to the stalls before Maltese Cross stepped up on his Newbury novice performance for Waud, who has 30,000 owners taking shares in 40 horses at Old Gold Racing.
“I haven’t seen it back fully as I was down at the start, but he was very tenacious and Tom was very pleased and said he had come forward from Newbury,” Haggas said.
“He’s winning his races which is great and I think we head to Epsom. As long as the horse is fit and well and seems OK, why wouldn’t we?
View 2 ImagesMaltese Cross (left) battled for the prize with Bay Of Brilliance(Image: Steven Paston/PA Wire)
“When you run in a trial, the Derby is the aim and no one will know what the best trial actually is until after the Derby.
“I don’t think we have anything to lose by heading to Epsom – it’s the Derby. I think the one thing he will do is stay, whether he stays quick enough is anyone’s guess.”
The most recent horse to have come out of the Lingfield contest and take the Derby is Adayar, trained by Charlie Appleby, whose trialist Maho Bay was the favourite and finished fourth to Maltese Cross.
“He impressed me today,” said Marquand. He had to roll his sleeves up and is extremely exciting. He’ll relish the Derby trip and the track won’t be a problem.”
Waud previously told the Racing Post how he bought Moonspirit, his first winner in 2023, from profits of a seven-horse accumulator at the Cheltenham Festival.
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He was at Bath when the then three-year-old filly scooped just over £4,000 and added one to Billy Loughnane’s successful apprentice title bid.