Epsom Derby 2022: Masekela Profile

Andrew Balding's Masekela will be a huge outsider for the 2022 Cazoo Derby on Saturday 4th June, but he will be one of the most experienced runners lining up at Epsom Downs for the Group 1 Classic...

Masekela

Sire: El Kabeir

Trainer: Andrew Balding

Runs: 6

Wins: 2

Notable Race Wins: Washington Singer Stakes

An eye-catching one-and-a-quarter length winner on debut at Goodwood over six furlongs, Masekela was then sent to Royal Ascot to compete in the Listed Chesham Stakes over seven furlongs. Unable to land a significant blow in that event, Andrew Balding's raider could only finish fifth behind the likes of Point Lonsdale and Reach For The Moon, but that has shown to be decent form.

Second in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket next time out, Masekela then got his head back in front as he claimed Listed glory in the Washington Singer Stakes over seven furlongs in August 2021. A hugely consistent juvenile campaign ended with him being sent off a well fancied 85/40 chance for the Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket over a mile, but the son of El Kabeir could only finish fourth in that event at Flat HQ.

A quieter campaign this term has only seen him take to the track once, and he was last seen finishing second behind Roger Varian's Eydon in the Listed Feilden Stakes at Newmarket in April. That run was over 1m 1f, so he will step up in trip considerably for the Derby, but he's shown he can put in some decent efforts at a high level, but this Group 1 company could be a different story.

The aforementioned Eydon is set to take him on at Epsom, so Masekela will have a lot to do to reverse the form, but the Balding-trained raider will give it a crack in what is a wide open Derby in 2022.