The Derby, Britain’s premier Classic contest which has been run over the twists and turns of the Epsom Downs since 1780, is still undoubtedly one of racing’s most sought-after prizes and it is every breeder and owner’s dream to have their colt line up at the start on the first Saturday in June.
Lammtarra winning the 1995 Derby
While there has not yet been a Derby winner carrying the famous Godolphin blue silks, there is nonetheless a great tradition in this prestigious race for both the Maktoum family and the Darley stallions.
It is now 20 years since Lammtarra (carrying the silks of Sheikh Mohammed’s nephew Saeed bin Maktoum al Maktoum) achieved the almost unheard of feat of landing the race on his seasonal debut.
Following the tragic death of his trainer Alex Scott the year before, Lammtarra was transferred to the care of Saeed bin Suroor and made a remarkable recovery from illness to not only win the coveted contest, but smash the track record in the process – a record that had stood for almost 60 years and was not beaten for some 15 years afterwards.
Lammtarra of course went on to win the King George and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and following a spell at stud in Japan, returned to Newmarket to enjoy his retirement at Dalham Hall Stud until his death last year.
Sir Percy (second right) flies home in 2006
Another notable winner of the Derby was Sir Percy, who in 2006 kicked off a golden period for the Darley stallions at Epsom. Sired by Sheikh Mohammed’s homebred Mark Of Esteem, Sir Percy was bred by Harry Ormesher, and was the last foal out of Percy’s Lass.
An outstanding juvenile, who rounded off his two-year-old campaign with victory in the Dewhurst, Sir Percy reappeared at three with a second in the 2,000 Guineas. With his connections opting to send him to Epsom (despite thoughts that the shorter distance of the Prix du Jockey Club may suit him better), Sir Percy certainly did not disappoint, overcoming traffic problems in the closing stages to burst home on the rail and prevail in a thrilling photo finish.
Authorized wins by five lengths
The following year, Authorized was the talk of the race beforehand as the horse many believed could provide Frankie Dettori with his elusive first victory. His credentials were exceptional, having won the Racing Post Trophy at two and winning his Derby trial in exceptional fashion when taking the Dante by four lengths.
Settled towards the rear in the Derby itself, Authorized loomed up with two furlongs left to run and the race was over in a matter of strides. His winning margin of five lengths was the greatest since Slip Anchor in 1985.
HRH Princess Haya leads New Approach into the winner's enclosure in 2008
New Approach was not originally destined to line up at Epsom, with the Irish Derby long cited as his preferred route. However, left in the race due to an apparent mistake, it was decided that New Approach - running in the colours of HRH Princess Haya - would take his chance. He did not provide his connections watching the race with the easiest time, pulling hard throughout the early stages before finding himself completely boxed in halfway down the straight. His quality prevailed however, and once the gap appeared he surged to the lead and won by half a length.
Sea The Stars continues his 2009 G1-winning streak
2009 was undoubtedly Sea The Stars’ year. The son of Cape Cross had carried all before him in the run up to the Derby, winning his three previous starts including the 2,000 Guineas.
John Oxx’s charge faced a particularly tough group of opponents at Epsom, but, given a superb ride by Mick Kinane, tracked the early pace before asked for his effort two furlongs out. Any doubts that he could stay the distance were swept aside as quickly as his opponents as he won by almost two lengths and became the first horse in 20 years to win both the Guineas and the Derby.
His Derby victory was the second in a six-race G1-winning run that saw him go on to land the Eclipse, the Juddmonte International, the Irish Champion Stakes and the Arc, thus securing his place in the history books as one of the greatest racehorses of all time.
A year later and it was time for the records to fall. King Best’s son Workforce was making only his third racecourse appearance and was aiming to break the trend that no horse beaten in the Dante had ever gone on to win the Derby. The race could not have gone better for Workforce, who was trained by Sir Michael Stoute, as he settled beautifully before making his move three furlongs from home.
Once he took the lead, he simply kept going, evoking memories of his trainer’s first Derby winner Shergar, as he drew further and further clear, eventually winning by seven lengths. Even more astounding was the fact that he broke Lammtarra’s track record by almost a second.
This year, Cape Cross added his second Derby winner as emphatic Dante Stakes winner Golden Horn justified favouritism and extend his unbeaten run to four in tremendous fashion. Settled towards the rear, he was content to let others battle out a frenetic early pace and biding his time in the style of a true champion, came with a magnificent late run to win by three and a half lengths. He continues his sire's amazing influence at Epsom, as not only was Cape Cross broodmare sire of last year's winner through his Oaks-winning daughter Ouija Board, he was also grandsire of last year's Oaks winner. Cape Cross may be the elder statesman at Kildangan Stud, but the success of his offspring is showing no signs of abating.
While Halling is now retired from stud duties, his legacy as a sire of talented performers continues and Golden Horn’s stablemate Jack Hobbs provided trainer John Gosden with the exacta in this year's race when finished a very creditable second.
