John Gosden has trained the first two home in the Dante Stakes at York but neither the winner Golden Horn nor stablemate Jack Hobbs are definite runners in the Derby.
Despite that, bookmakers have trimmed Golden Horn to as short as 2-1 for the Epsom Classic.
With Golden Horn’s owner Anthony Oppenheimer convinced his home-bred wants no further than the Dante trip of 10 furlongs (2000m) he has yet to be convinced he should pay the STG75,000 ($A145,602) late entry fee and has the French Derby as an alternative.
Jack Hobbs is entered at Epsom but looked slightly inexperienced and Gosden floated the idea of the King Edward VII stakes at Royal Ascot.
William Buick, Gosden’s former stable jockey, rode 4-1 winner while Frankie Dettori was on Jack Hobbs who finished 2-3/4 lengths second as the 2-1 favourite.
“It’s very much up to Mr Oppenheimer,” Gosden said.
“He’s been very firm with me that he’s a mile-and-a-quarter (2000m) horse and he told me that all along, so we will see.
“I’m sure Mr Oppenheimer will have a think about whether he wants to stump up the 75 grand or not.”
Aidan O’Brien fielded both Ol’ Man River and John F Kennedy but the two were outpaced when the race began in earnest, finishing second to last and last of the seven runners respectively.
O’Brien completely ruled out any notion of 2000 Guineas winner Gleneagles stepping up in distance for the Derby, comparing him favourably with Giant’s Causeway who notched up a string of five Group One wins in 2000.
“There’s no way Gleneagles will be going to Epsom,” he said.
“We haven’t had a horse like him for a long time. He’s an out-and-out miler but with more speed than Giant’s Causeway.”
