Tag Archive for: Epsom Derby

From Roberto to Sea The Stars, the giants that have done the Derby-York double

/in /by

City Of Troy will on Wednesday attempt to become the sixth horse to follow up Derby success at Epsom by landing York’s Juddmonte International in the same season. It is a decade since that famous double was last achieved and here we take a look back at all of the past examples:

Australia (2014)

Horse Racing – 2014 Welcome To Yorkshire Ebor Festival – Juddmonte Interntional Day – York Racecourse
Australia ridden by Joseph O’Brien wins the Juddmonte International (Anna Gowthorpe/PA).

Aidan O’Brien and son Joseph teamed up to claim Classic glory when this beautifully-bred son of Galileo and Ouija Board breezed past Kingston Hill at Epsom and then hacked up at long odds-on in the Irish equivalent. Dropping back down in distance at York, Australia powered to the front approaching the furlong pole and comfortably held off The Grey Gatsby to prevail by two lengths. Owner Michael Tabor said: “You go for a Derby because there’s nothing like a Derby, but the truth of the matter is taking him to a mile and a quarter shows the speed he’s got!”

Sea The Stars (2009)

Horse Racing – Ebor Festival – Juddmonte International Day – York Racecourse
Sea The Stars ridden by Mick Kinane (centre) beats Mastercraftsman (Anna Gowthorpe/PA).

The John Oxx-trained superstar took a similar route to the Knavesmire as City Of Troy has, only he did the business in the 2000 Guineas before also claiming a classy Derby triumph and then digging deep to see off Rip Van Winkle in the Eclipse at Sandown. At York, Sea The Stars scared off all but three Ballydoyle opponents – outstaying main rival Mastercraftsman and two rank outsiders. Jockey Mick Kinane beamed: “The last couple of years, I have been searching for a good horse, and then suddenly a great one comes along in the twilight of my life, and it is a privilege. He is the best horse I have ridden, and I have ridden some great ones.”

Authorized (2007)

Horse Racing – Ebor Festival – Juddmonte International Day – York Racecourse
Authorized and Frankie Dettori (left) beat Dylan Thomas (John Giles/PA).

After romping home by five lengths to give Frankie Dettori an elusive first Derby win, Peter Chapple-Hyam’s charge suffered a surprise defeat in the Eclipse but then bounced back to top form when getting the better of Dylan Thomas at York, where he had previously been ultra-impressive in the Dante. “Epsom meant everything, but that was for me. This was for Authorized and I was so pleased for him,” said Chapple-Hyam. “It seems that in this country people like to knock winners – not just horses, but our top sportsmen. People have knocked Authorized, so he had to prove himself and he did.”

Troy (1979)

Troy who won the 200th Derby Stakes
Troy and Willie Carson (PA).

Willie Carson’s faith in Troy was rewarded when he stormed to a spectacular seven-length triumph in the Derby, despite being only the third-favourite behind better-fancied stablemate Milford. Another convincing victory in the Irish equivalent followed and Dick Hern’s colt also picked up a more workmanlike win in Ascot’s King George before heading to the Knavesmire. In a race then titled the Benson & Hedges Gold Cup, Troy appeared to have plenty to do when well adrift of Lyphard’s Wish and Crimson Beau in the home straight, but ultimately stayed on strongly to secure a cosy success.

Roberto (1972)

Horse Racing – Benson and Hedges Gold Cup – York Racecourse
Roberto, ridden by Braulio Baeza, wins the Benson & Hedges Gold Cup at York (PA).

Vincent O’Brien’s colt just edged out future Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Rheingold in a ding-dong battle at Epsom, but was subsequently well beaten in the Irish Derby and Lester Piggott deserted him to ride Rheingold in their York rematch, the inaugural running of this race. That left his American owners to bring in Panamanian-born US Hall of Fame jockey Braulio Baeza, who set a strong gallop. Rheingold struggled with the scorching pace, but Roberto still had to fend off the challenge of the previously unbeaten Brigadier Gerard before going on to win by three lengths. It was to be the great Brigadier Gerard’s only defeat in 18 career starts.

Deira Mile enhances Derby prospects with Windsor win

/in /by

Owner Ahmad Al Shaik is again dreaming of Derby glory after Deira Mile broke his duck in routine fashion at Windsor.

Dubai Mile was ninth in the Epsom Classic last year carrying the Green Team Racing colours and hopes are high of an improved placing this term.

The Owen Burrows-trained Deira Mile remained a maiden following four runs as a juvenile, mainly due to fluffing his lines when sent off as a 1-5 favourite at Chelmsford.

However, he showed his potential when beaten less than three lengths in fourth behind Ancient Wisdom in the Group One Futurity at Doncaster and built on that by justifying short odds of 4-9 at Windsor under Jim Crowley.

Asked about Derby aspirations, his owner told Sky Sports Racing: “It is in my blood and my sons’ blood, not just me. We need to go to the Derby and one day we will win – if not me, one of my sons.

“He is still green but Jim Crowley said the further he goes, the better he will be.

“We have only 40 days now until Epsom, I don’t think we have time to run him again, so I will discuss with the trainer about going straight to Epsom and I think he will be fine.”

Burrows added: “He’s a big lad and mentally, he’s still quite immature. He had the four runs last year, but he is still a big baby.

“The plan was to try and find as easy a race as we could and it worked out perfectly. He’s ended up hitting the front a little sooner than ideal, as he gets to the front and just thinks ‘right, what do I do now?’ But he’s had a race.”

Crowley pulled alongside main market rival Castle In The Sand between the final two furlongs of the 10-furlong contest and Deira Mile responded to his urgings to prevail by four lengths.

The jockey said: “It’s the first time I’ve ridden him, but I saw him at Chelmsford last year and I think when he hits the front, he just loses concentration a little bit and he did it there, hence why I gave him a smack, because I just don’t want him to get in the habit of doing it.

“The race sort of fell apart at the two-furlong pole and I could have quite easily stayed upsides on the bridle, but he probably wouldn’t have learnt an awful lot.

“But he is learning, he’s going to progress and he stays well – he’s a lovely type of horse and he was entitled to win that race.

“His two-year-old form was very good at the back-end and I suggested to Owen we could possibly put a set of cheekpieces on him, especially in a better race where horses take him further.

“Like I said, he stays very well and there will be some lovely races for him through the summer.”

City Of Troy stars in initial list of Derby entries

/in /by

Champion juvenile City Of Troy is among the initial list of 72 put forward at the first entry stage of the Betfred Derby.

Aidan O’Brien’s Justify colt was unbeaten in three runs as a two-year-old, taking his maiden, the Superlative Stakes by six and a half lengths and then the Dewhurst by three and a half lengths.

His rating of 125 has left him at the top of the pile ahead of the new season, with stablemate Henry Longfellow third on the list on 119 and also nominated for the Epsom Classic.

There are 17 O’Brien-trained horses in the mix, including Diego Velazquez, winner of the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes, and Criterium de Saint-Cloud scorer Los Angeles.

City Of Troy – who will be seen first in the Qipco 2000 Guineas – heads the market, with Henry Longfellow behind him, after which Charlie Appleby is represented by Futurity Trophy winner Ancient Wisdom and Zetland Stakes victor Arabian Crown.

There are 46 British entries, 23 from Ireland and one each from France, the USA and Japan.

The next entry stage for the £1.5million showpiece, which takes place on June 1, is on April 24.