WHERE THERE'S A WILL..

DERBY winners need to be “ready for a battle” - so a horse who shares his name with a medal for gallantry should fit the bill.

- BY DAVID YATES

Maltese Cross is a fifth runner in the Classic for William Haggas 30 years after his first, Shaamit, the winner of a Doncaster maiden at two, reappeared to beat favourite Dushyantor and give the trainer his greatest career triumph.

“It’s the race that every trainer wants to win,” says the Yorkshire-born master of Newmarket’s Somerville Lodge stable.

“I’m very keen to support the Derby, but only if you are lucky to get a horse who is good enough - and can stay.

“I don’t know where the 30 years have gone. I think I was a bit naive back then, but things fell our way.