28 May 2024 , 11:54
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The stables where one of the leading challengers for the Betfred Derby is trained has a spooky history.
Ambiente Friendly, a 6-1 chance to win the £1.5 million Classic at Epsom, is trained by James Fanshawe at Pegasus Stables in Newmarket.
The yard was built in 1884 by Fred Archer, the brilliant but tortured jockey who won the Derby five times in the 19th century.
Aged just 27, he shot himself in 1886 in the house that once stood on the site of the yard and there have been many claims of Archer’s ghost being seen roaming the grounds.
Fanshawe revealed that in the nineties his staff had summoned Archer by using a ouija board.
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One of these sessions would lead to the discovery of the burial place of the last Derby winner trained at Pegasus Stables, 1919 hero Grand Parade.
Ambiente Friendly, who earned his start with an emphatic victory in the Lingfield Derby Trial, will be only Fanshawe’s second runner in the race in 33 years training.
“Fred built the yard and he is still around,” said Fanshawe. “He can give good advice hopefully. He won the Derby five times so he’s got some experience.”
He went on: “A long time ago the lads actually did get him up on the ouija board. I don’t know how it works but they got him and they did a reenactment.
Ambiente Friendly is out on his own in the William Hill Lingfield Derby Trial (PA)“He told them that Unblest was going to win which he did. He was only 6-4. He told the lads where the grave was, which they wouldn’t have known.
“It all came out on telly and they got a lot of stick about it, but they made contact with him.”
The trainer said there are no plans for a seance ahead of the Derby to find out if Archer could forecast victory for Ambiente Friendly.
“I’d rather keep the excitement of not knowing the result and let everything take its course.”
Robert Havlin, 50, who has replaced Callum Shepherd as his big race jockey, partnered Ambiente Friendly round a bend on Sunday morning.
"He went round the bend as good as anyone has around there," said Fanshawe.. "They seem to have a good rapport."
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