Trial races for the Epsom Derby are horse races during April and May which are contested by three-year-olds likely to run in the Derby in early June.
Most Derby runners appear in at least one race in the weeks before the event, although some, such as the winners Lammtarra and Shaamit, have arrived at Epsom with no previous run as a three-year-old.
The leading trial of recent years has been the Dante Stakes, which has been contested by eight subsequent winners of the Derby in the last 33 years. The following table shows any race classed at Listed level or above which served as a trial for a Derby winner during the period 1992 to 2026.
Race Derby winners from race 1992–2026 (won unless stated) Prix La Force Pour Moi (3rd) Feilden Stakes Erhaab (2nd), Golden Horn Craven Stakes Dr Devious (2nd), Masar Ballysax Stakes Sinndar (2nd), Galileo, High Chaparral, Harzand, Christmas Day Sandown Classic Trial Benny the Dip (2nd), Adayar (2nd) 2,000 Guineas Sir Percy (2nd), New Approach (2nd), Sea the Stars, Camelot, Australia (3rd), Masar (3rd), Auguste Rodin (12th), City of Troy (9th) Kentucky Derby Dr Devious (7th) Dee Stakes Oath, Kris Kin Lingfield Derby Trial High-Rise, Anthony Van Dyck, Adayar (2nd) Prix Greffulhe Pour Moi Chester Vase Ruler of the World, Wings of Eagles (2nd), Lambourn Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Sinndar, Galileo, High Chaparral Dante Stakes Erhaab, Benny the Dip, North Light, Motivator, Authorized, Workforce (2nd), Golden Horn, Desert Crown, Christmas Day (3rd) Glasgow Stakes(No longer a trial) Commander in Chief Irish 2,000 Guineas New Approach (2nd) Unraced as 3-y-o Lammtarra, Shaamit Winners on maiden Serpentine
See also Trial races for the Epsom Oaks
References Racing Post race records of the last twenty-one Derby winners: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012