The Betfred Derby Festival looked like being two days of excellent racing, and so it proved. The Listed Surrey Stakes over seven furlongs was the first race of the meeting and went to the heavily backed Formal for owners Cheveley Park, trainer Andrew Balding and rider Oisin Murphy. One nil to the punters!
The Woodcote Conditions Stakes for two-year-olds over six furlongs went to another favourite, this rime Godolphin owned Maximized who saw off rivals bravely having been quite keen going down to post. The next race the Group 1 Coronation Cup attracted a field of seven runners for this mile and a half contest. The Aidan O’Brien trained Jan Brueghel won half a length from the French raider and odds on favourite Calandagan under Ryan Moore. This was a very game display from the winner who was briefly joined in the final furlong but found extra under a great ride.
The main event, the Group 1 Oaks was an intriguing affair with differing opinions around the 1000 Guineas winner Desert Flower staying the extra half mile of this race. The race was dominated by Coolmore owned runners Minnie Hauk and Whirl and there was only a neck to separate them at the line with favourite Desert Flower four lengths back in third. Minnie Hauk under Ryan Moore prevailed after being bumped close to the finish by her stablemate ridden by Wayne Lordan. Desert Flower looked to be struggling half a mile from home but did stay on in determined fashion for William Buick and Charlie Appleby. Maybe ten furlongs will be her optimum trip?
On to Derby Day itself and the first race on the card was the Group 3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes for Fillies and Mares. Spiritual trained by the Gosden’s and ridden by Rab Havlin made most for a convincing victory eased down by 5 lengths. Another Group 3 the Diomed Stakes was next up and saw Persica for Richard Hannon and Ryan Moore take the prize from Ice Max and Docklands who filled the places
The three-year-old Dash and the Epsom Dash for older horses over the fastest five furlongs in the world saw two northern trained sprinters take the honours namely Stormy Impact for Richard Fahey and Jm Jungle for John and Sean Quinn. Well done to both!
The Blue Ribband of Flat Racing was next up and we saw a quite unusual outcome as the winner made every yard to win. Lambourn set his own fractions and stayed on strongly winning unchallenged from Lazy Griff who chased the winner home as he did in the Chester Vase.
Its worth noting the trials for both the Oaks and Derby were won by the winners of the Chester Trials this year. The first two home in the Dante at York were last and second last in the Derby, maybe not handling the track, but Whirl who did win the Musidora at York was just touched off in the Oaks.