 On 23 May Ladas started at odds of 1 / 12 ( 0 @.@ 08 / 1 ) for the Newmarket Stakes against four opponents . He took the lead soon after half way and won easily ( " unextended " ) by two lengths from St Florian . His price for the Derby was immediately shortened ( reduced ) to 4 / 9 ( 0 @.@ 44 / 1 ) . In the next two weeks , Ladas was the subject of intense interest , and was protected by a group of police detectives . 
