Belmont Derby: Tom Collins wants to oppose Stone Age in Saturday's red-hot contest

An influx of European challengers for turf Stakes races is expected over the next few years and the Belmont Derby, in which five Europeans line up, is just the start.

The opening market suggests that our shipping battalion is headed by the Aidan O’Brien-trained Stone Age, a son of Galileo who finished sixth of 17 in the Epsom Derby. Prior to that he notched a couple of highly impressive all-the-way victories at Leopardstown to begin his three-year-old campaign.

His talent is undeniable - he’s run to a mark of 118 already in his short career - but he disappointed me in England’s most prestigious Classic. Stone Age was in the perfect position, just two lengths back in third, with three furlongs to go, yet failed to quicken when asked by Ryan Moore and was eventually beaten 11 lengths.

Perhaps he failed to stay the 1m4f trip that day and the two-furlong cutback will work in his favour, but there is no doubt that Stone Age will need to return to something like his best if he’s to follow in the footsteps of stablemate Bolshoi Ballet, who won this race for O’Brien and Moore 12 months ago. 

His life hasn’t been made easier by the draw - stall 13 might see him forced two or three wide rounding the first bend and therefore he will have to cover more ground. While an expected fast early gallop will force Moore to adopt plan B and stalk the leaders. I can’t have him at the relatively short price offered.

Classic Causeway, who won two key Kentucky Derby trials before disappointing in the ‘Run For The Roses’ earlier this year, figures to set a searching gallop on his turf debut. He, along with recent Pennine Ridge Stakes winner Emmanuel, could set this up for the closers and Nations Pride might be the chief beneficiary.

This beautifully-bred colt recorded four straight successes before heading to Epsom for the Derby and actually finished two places behind the aforementioned Stone Age back in eighth. However, he went into that race as an inexperienced middle-distance prospect and will have learned plenty given the rough nature of his trip.

Nations Pride was shuffled back in the early portion of the race and found himself in an unfavourable position as the field turned for home. He briefly looked like he was going to come with a challenge, but instead hung left down the camber and was tentatively ridden once his chance had gone.

His previous seven-length victory over eventual Derby runner-up Hoo Ya Mal proved his class, and he should appreciate the return to a flatter track here at Belmont Park. Frankie Dettori has flown over to New York for the ride, which is a big positive, while trainer Charlie Appleby is 12-25 (48% strike-rate) with his Grade 1 runners in the US over the last five years.

I’m going to double up in this year’s Belmont Derby with a home challenger that has been crying out for a fast-paced mile-and-a-quarter contest. His name is Limited Liability, and there is no way this horse should be as big as 20/1.

Shug McGaughey, who won this race in 1987, 1990 and 2014, brings his talented prospects along gently - he’s very similar to Sir Michael Stoute in that regard - and he’s probably had this race in mind from a long way out.

Limited Liability has generally run in small-field events that have been run at glacial tempos, but the one time he had something to chase (Keeneland, two starts ago) he absolutely flew home from virtually last to claim first prize. 

His Pennine Ridge third behind the aforementioned Emmanuel was worth marking up given his early position in the race and, providing he doesn’t suffer a wide trip from gate 12, he can rattle home from off the speed and trouble the Europeans under leading rider Jose Ortiz.

Recommended bet

Nations Pride (10.12 Belmont Park) @ 5.4
Limited Liability (10.12 Belmont Park) @ 20