Raaheeb, a highly bred colt, significantly enhanced his chances for the Derby with a stunning performance in the bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown. As the full-brother to the exceptional Baaeed and the top-class Hukum, Raaheeb had big shoes to fill, but he demonstrated that he has inherited a substantial amount of his family's talent. Following a successful debut at Ascot in September, Raaheeb effortlessly stepped up in both distance and class for his three-year-old debut in this 10-furlong Group Three event.
While the favourite, Action, underperformed, Raaheeb travelled smoothly throughout and, when prompted by Rossa Ryan, pulled an impressive three and a quarter lengths clear of the chasing pack, led by Al Zanati. Trainer Owen Burrows expressed his surprise and delight at Raaheeb's victory, stating that he had anticipated a strong finish but not a win. Burrows praised Raaheeb's ability to stay and his impressive finish, suggesting that the colt could handle an additional couple of furlongs. Although Raaheeb is entered in the Dante, Burrows is cautious about rushing him, preferring to wait and see how he recovers from this outing before making a decision.
Bookmakers have shortened Raaheeb's odds for the Derby to 8-1, but Burrows is hesitant to commit to Epsom at this stage, considering other options such as Ascot and the Irish Derby. With Raaheeb's potential and talent, Burrows is determined to make the right decisions to ensure the colt reaches his full potential.