Epsom review on Derby day: Silvestre De Sousa bangs on double

De Sousa at the double

Silvestre De Sousa made amends for finishing second in the Investec Derby on Dee Ex Bee with a late double in the final two races at Epsom.

The champion jockey had to settle for the runner-up spot in the day's feature but wasn't to be denied after making all the running on Dash Of Spice in the Investec Out Of the Ordinary Handicap.

The David Elsworth-trained 11/4 favourite set the tempo before De Sousa let out some rein turning in and the lightly-raced four-year-old skipped clear of his rivals to score by six lengths from Golden Wolf (8/1) and Across The Stars (7/1) who ran on from near the back of the field.

The money came for De Sousa's mount again in the last as Aces (11/2 joint-favourite) was punted from an opening 10/1 in the Investec Asset Management Handicap.

The race opened up for him as Brian The Snail wandered off a line on the bend, taking three or four rivals with him, but De Sousa still had to haul his mount to the front from a difficult position and he executed the move with aplomb.

Aces, who hasn't been with trainer Ian Williams long, ran on strongly inside the distance and held the late challenge of Russian Realm to score by a length and three quarters.

Shanghai Glory suffered a troubled passage up the straight and rates unlucky not to finish better than third.

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Century up for Crisford

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Century Dream gave Simon Crisford a welcome big-race winner with a smooth success in the Investec Diomed Stakes at Epsom.

The progressive four-year-old was victorious in a Listed race at Ascot last time out and handled the step up to Group Three level with a degree of ease.

William Buick was always in the perfect position as he tracked last year's winner Sovereign Debt, who took up the running two furlongs out before making his own bid for home.

He took two lengths out of the rest and while the admirable Gabrial made late headway under Frankie Dettori to claim second from True Valour, the 11/4 favourite was never going to be caught.

He won by two and a quarter lengths and Crisford, Godolphin's former racing manager, can now begin to look for some big prizes.

He said: "That's fantastic. He travelled into the race and quickened up in impressive fashion. We did earmark this race after the last one, but he is ground dependent and wants a little bit of cut, so when it rained we were happy.

"He likes to get his toe in. He galloped all the way to the line and has done it very well.

"I think we will wait and see what the weather does. If we got really soft ground we would be brave enough to run in a really smart race. I would definitely go travelling with him, but we will see what is around."

Dettori delight on Wilamina

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Frankie Dettori got on the score sheet on Derby day as Wilamina landed the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom.

Martyn Meade's filly had finished second, albeit at a respectable distance, to the now-retired Wuheida last time out.

Despite being drawn eight of eight, Dettori was able to get a good early position behind the leader Lincoln Rocks before kicking on two furlongs out.

Richard Hannon's Anna Nerium was last round Tattenham Corner but began to make ground hand over fist when Tom Marquand got her balanced, although but she was always running out of ground.

Sent off the 7/2 joint-favourite Wilamina held on by three-quarters of a length.

Dettori said: "I was drawn eight, but I got a good pitch. I knew she'd stay, so I kicked early. Some horses handle Epsom and she went around Tattenham Corner like it was flat.

"She did everything I asked her to and she won nicely, without really asking her for much. She's got a good temperament and a big heart, and why not (go for a Group race)?

"When horses get on an upward curve they can do anything."

Only Connect has all the answers

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Clive Cox's fantastic run of form continued as Connect won the Investec Private Banking Handicap - the opening event at Epsom on Derby day.

The 12/1 shot, who was fitted with a hood for the first time, was having his third start of the season and eventually won well after coming with a storming run from the back of the field.

Winning rider Adam Kirby held the son of Roderic O'Connor up in the early part of the 10-furlong handicap but as they straightened for home and there was a difference of opinion with several horses heading towards the stands' rail, Kirby stuck to the inside path.

His mount responded impressively inside the final couple of furlongs, edging past the front-running Corazon Espinado before getting back on the rail and rolling on to a length and a half victory from Court House (5/1).

Shuhood was third at 11/1, while the 4/1 favourite Poet's Prince, who was prominent throughout but among those to veer off towards the near side, weakened out of the placings into fourth.

Cox said: "He didn't settle at all at Newbury and the ground was too quick and he pulled far too hard.

"The hood was an experiment, but with the atmosphere you get on Derby day I'm glad we put it on and it made a huge difference. Adam was able to get his hands on his neck early

"To be honest Alan Spence (owner) deserves all the credit, we've not had much rain in Lambourn, but he lives in Esher and told me it was pouring down here as he was walking his dog and got soaked, so he told us to enter for Epsom.

"He won a Listed race at two and has always been pretty tidy. If he relaxes we'll see the best of him, but we'll take it a step at a time."

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