Lingfield Park. (Pic:Courtesy of ARC)

Horse Talk with Simon Jackson:

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LINGFIELD Park officials celebrated the Investec Derby and Oaks victories of Anthony Van Dyck and Anapurna who both won their Classic trials at Lingfield in May.

The Derby and Oaks wins were the first time the Lingfield trials provided the winners of both Classics in the same year, bridging a 20-year gap since Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Ramruma won the Oaks in 1999, a year after Lingfield Derby Trial winner High Rise won the Derby.

“It’s the first time it’s happened in the same year,” said clerk of the course, George Hill said.

“It’s well received and well needed. It’s brilliant. We’ve been well supported this year with some nice horses,” Hill told Racing TV.

“It’s good for the track and puts the Lingfield trials back on the map to be taken seriously.

“It’s 20 years for the Oaks and 21 years since the Derby, so the stats weren’t in our favour in recent times.

“We have been well supported with some big turn-outs in the last couple of years. Kew Gardens (subsequent St Leger hero) finished runner-up in the Derby Trial last year – and the winner, Knight To Behold, went on to land a Group 2.

“Best Solution won the Caulfield Cup, and he was successful here two years ago.

“We may not have had Derby winners, but they have gone on to win Group 1s or Group 2s elsewhere.

“It will help us go forward, and having the double definitely puts us back on the map.

“The configuration of the track is very similar, and probably the most similar of the other trials, to Epsom – and that is massively in our favour.”

Meanwhile racegoers in London and the south east may soon have another chance get a close-up look of Anthony Van Dyck – whose entries include the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on July 6 – and Anapurna whose sole current entry is in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 20.

Horse Talk with Simon Jackson. Showcasing horse racing in London and the south east.