Raaheeb, a meticulously bred son of Sea The Stars, added another impressive chapter to his Derby résumé with a commanding performance in the bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown. The colt carries a hefty legacy: he is a full brother to the outstanding Baaeed, who won ten of his eleven starts under the tutelage of William Haggas, and to the high‑class Hukum, a horse that Owen Burrows guided to triumphs in the Coronation Cup and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. From the outset of his career, Raaheeb displayed signs that the family talent had been passed down.
He broke his maiden over seven furlongs at Ascot in early September, handling the distance with ease. When the time came to test him over a longer trip and against stronger opposition, the connections stepped him up to ten furlongs in a Group Three contest for his three‑year‑old debut.
The move proved astute; the colt settled comfortably and, when prompted by jockey Rossa Ryan, accelerated to a decisive three‑and‑a‑quarter‑length victory, leaving the rest of the field, headed by Al Zanati, in his wake. The race unfolded with Aidan O'Brien’s four‑to‑six favourite, Action, appearing reluctant when the pace quickened, ultimately delivering a disappointing effort. In contrast, Burrows’s runner travelled smoothly throughout, responding to Ryan’s urging with a powerful turn of foot.
"To be honest, I came here today thinking if we finished in the frame I would be pleased, so to win like he did surprised me a little," Burrows admitted after the race. He added that Ryan reported the horse took a slight stumble half a furlong from the finish, yet he loved how Raaheeb lowered his head and surged past the line. The trainer’s optimism did not stop at the win. "He’ll definitely stay, and Rossa thought he quickened up again at the finish and hit the line strong.
I would have no qualms about going another couple of furlongs. We’ll see how he comes out of this before we decide when we run again. He’s in the Dante, but that could come a bit quick," Burrows explained, hinting at possible future targets.
The victory sparked a wave of speculation about Raaheeb’s next steps. Bookmakers trimmed his Derby odds to 8‑1 from 20‑1, reflecting the growing belief that he could be a serious contender at Epsom.
Yet Burrows cautioned against rushing a decision. "I don’t want to commit to Epsom at this stage. There’s Ascot and then the Irish Derby, so we will have to see.
I don’t think I’ve had a three‑year‑old as good as this at this stage – he’s better than Hukum was at this point. It’s exciting," he said. He also noted a moment of atypical behaviour at the starting stalls, where the colt reared briefly. "The way he acted at the stalls (rearing) was a bit out of character and I’m hoping that was just a bit of freshness coming out of him because he’s not shown that before.
That’s there in the back of your mind when you’re considering the Derby – would it be a smidgen too soon? We’ll wait and see," Burrows added. The trainer emphasized the importance of patience, drawing parallels with his brother’s development. "His brother got better at six, so we don’t want to do the wrong thing.
He’s probably better than Hukum was at this stage, but we need to get it right," Burrows concluded. Raaheeb’s lineage, performance, and the measured approach of his connections make him a horse to watch as the classic season unfolds. With a pedigree that includes a multiple Group One winner and a proven Group Three victor, he possesses both the genetic foundation and the early racing evidence to justify a serious look at the Derby, the Irish Derby, or even a step up to the Dante Stakes.
As the summer progresses, the racing world will be keen to see whether the colt can sustain this momentum and fulfill the high expectations placed upon him by his family name and his trainer’s careful stewardship.