Hero’s welcome for Ferguson colt

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson could have asked for little more from Forgotten Hero after watching the Investec Derby entry win a maiden in pleasing style at Lingfield.

With a gap in his team’s programme until Monday evening, Ferguson was able to join his friend and co-owner Jack Hanson at the Surrey course in order to see the High Chaparral colt compete in the Follow Us On Twitter At bluesq Maiden Stakes.

Forgotten Hero, who carried Hanson’s red and green colours as the 4-5 favourite, had shown obvious promise when finishing third on his debut at Newmarket last October and was barely out of cruise control under Michael Hills in finishing six lengths clear.

Trainer Charlie Hills, Michael’s brother, said: “He’s such a big baby, but he’s got a lot of ability. He’ll probably be a mile and a quarter horse and we might run him in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket next month.

“He wants racing and nine furlongs there should set him up nicely. He’s in the Derby and the French Derby, but we’ll have to see how he gets on.”

There was a moment of concern for veteran owner Hanson when he took a wrong step when walking up to the podium, and he needed to be treated for a cut leg.

Ferguson said of the winner: “I’m very excited. That was a good performance. I’ve got five horses with Charlie, a two-year-old with Richard Hannon and my Highclere connection.”

William Buick made the best possible return to riding in Britain by winning on his first mount of 2012 in the Bet At Blue Square Maiden Stakes.

The top-level jockey has been in action in the UAE during the winter but with the domestic Flat season now hotting up, he was given the leg-up on Dark Stranger (4-1) for his boss John Gosden.

Benbecula had been giving Kieran O’Neill a difficult time by hanging around the first bend but had still accumulated a decent lead into the home straight, only to be worn down in the final strides by Buick.