Life on the road is always supposed to offer the freedom to do what you wish. So when Gunther Schmidt discovered the promising colt he reproduced, Balzac, was making a first appearance of the year at Kempton recently, he understood he needed to exist.

And it appears the German horse transporter can start to get thrilled about the possibilities of Balzac fulfilling his engagement in the Betfred Derby, with trainer-owner Jane Chapple-Hyam now considering a run around Epsom in the Blue Riband Trial and not intending to be put off the Classic even if he went off at 100-1 as "everyone has a dream".

"I was taking some German mares over and I 'd seen he was running so I dropped them in Newmarket, had my rest and took my time to come across," stated Schmidt. "It's constantly a huge difference if it's live or simply on the television.

"We bred him, we love him and we still have the mum, who's just foaled a filly by Erevann."

Schmidt now spends a lot of his time lorry driving as he founded his company, Taxi4Horses, about 20 years back and has a fleet of cars under his control whisking horses all over Europe.

Previously, he ran a stud in Germany with his other half Elke and it stays in his blood, with the couple boarding a few mares in Germany and France.

Balzac's dam, Brit Wit, has actually already offered them an unforgettable high as she is responsible for Claymore, likewise trained by Chapple-Hyam and a winner of the 2022 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot after chasing home Native Trail in the Craven Stakes.

The New Bay gelding has actually stayed in training aged 7, hacking up when invited to a Hungarian local Group 1 at Kincsem Park last September and switching his attention to the Dubai Carnival, where he was second in a handicap in the middle of January.

Brit Wit is an unraced High Chaparral daughter of Brisk Breeze, who proved a great entertainer for Schmidt's compatriot Gerhard Schoeningh and his Ennismore Racing banner. The guy who has been attempting to restore Hoppegarten racecourse back to its former glory campaigned Brisk Breeze with Sir Henry Cecil, winning the Listed Harvest Stakes at Ascot and completing a close third in the Park Hill.

Balzac, who is from the very first crop of Gestut Etzean's Japan, was picked up by Chapple-Hyam herself at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale and raced once as a two-year-old, completing a close 3rd in a hot-looking maiden at Newmarket in the autumn.

He went off at even-money under Hollie Doyle in a mile newbie on the Polytrack, making all the running to hold off previous winners Winding Stream and Magic Trip.

"We sold him as a foal for 30,000 gns; Jane was on him given that he was born since we're great buddies," said Schmidt. "She entered into the ring, took a bet, and she got him, so we were delighted.

"We likewise own a two-year-old sis [Meribah] from the very first crop of Torquator Tasso. She remains in pre-training in Germany and we're keen to get her perhaps to Jane, of course, but she's French reproduced so we'll see."

Japan, the regally-bred Galileo stallion and winner of the Juddmonte International and Grand Prix de Paris with Aidan O'Brien, was considered an essential finalizing for the Germany reproducing market when he relocated to Etzean upon retirement.

He knocked out six two-year-old winners from his very first crop, however there is most likely to be better to come now his progeny are three. They include the Danish-bred Taifuu, who won a conditions race in Dubai this winter.

Schmidt is a Japan fan, too, including: "He had a winner in Germany recently, Weekend Warrior, over 2,100 m and maybe the very best of them, Peace Of Japan, ran over 1,500 m and was ridden with simply hands and heels however ended up a great second.

"He's entered in the French Derby, Balzac remains in gotten in the Derby, so Japan is definitely on his method. And we need a horse like him in Germany; we require a proven stallion who kicks on German breeding."

Should Balzac get to Epsom we can be sure Schmidt will exist too, perhaps pointing a Taxi4Horses cab in the direction of the Downs while in his top hat and tails.

"I also bred Stingray, who ran for us in the German Derby and finished fifth; he then ran in Newmarket last November [6th, James Seymour Stakes] with Hollie Doyle on and we've still got him," he said.

"We have a fascinating three-year-old ourselves called Strike [by Fearless King], a half sibling to Stingray. So we're always dreaming. My household has actually had horses for 70 years, I was born with them.