David Ord reflects on an Investec Derby dominated by the Coolmore team as Anthony Van Dyck came out on top at Epsom.
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Coolmore dominate Epsom again
It was an Investec Derby that had it all – and in the end the answer was Anthony Van Dyck.
He was the pick of the Ballydoyle septet and that was enough to win the world’s greatest flat race.
It was always likely to be but given he had only a half-a-length and a nose in hand of stablemate Japan in third, and a further nose away in fourth was Broome and Sir Dragonet a short-head back in fifth, it's no wonder clear-cut evidence of any colt’s superiority was in short supply on the famous County Tipperary gallops.
The winning margin may downplay the winner’s superiority though as he had to switch to find room down the straight and only got truly rolling when seeing clear blue water by the stands’ rail.
Seamie Heffernan wasn’t going to let this slip through his grasp and drove him home to spark team celebrations.
It’s worth pointing out that only the presence of Madhmoon, who ran a huge race in second, prevented O’Brien sending out the first six home. Still five of the first six ain’t bad, or six of the first eight come to that – and further evidence of the dominance of the Coolmore team.
It’s an unparalleled era of success as the behemoths of the stallion world, a staggering band of broodmares and a quiet, unassuming, training genius tighten their stranglehold.
Some argue it’s bad for the sport – and it is nice to see the stars shared around a little – but fair play to this operation.
They don’t campaign their horses conservatively – they race – and they race against each other.
Perhaps all seven of the Epsom raiders will head now to the Curragh for the Irish Derby and you couldn't be dogmatic about who will come out on top.
Wayne Lordan dropped the whip close home on Japan – a colt who took a step forward from the Dante and could improve again.
Broome got rolling but could never find the another gear to carry him past those ahead of him. Maybe softer ground will help.
Sir Dragonet fleetingly looked like justifying favouritism as he loomed large two out and only backed out of the fiercest of Derby fights in the final 100 yards. There are big days to come from him.
But then again maybe the best horse actually won the Investec Derby.
They usually do and given his traffic problems at a crucial stage Anthony Van Dyck was just that.
It was a real boost for Lingfield too – the Derby and Oaks winners both landing their trials last month.
See – there is some British success for the patriotic out there to cling to.
Piggott honoured by Newton bronze
Lester Piggott is a man of few words and was never going to be effusive in praise of his statue unveiled by the Queen before racing on Saturday.
It’s a life-size bronze statue of the nine-time Derby-winning jockey by portrait sculptor William Newton that will be installed at nine different racecourses around the country in honour of his remarkable career (Piggott not Newton).
The Queen was at Epsom for all nine of the jockey's Derby victories, and in 1957 he rode her own Carrozza to Oaks success.
"I think it has been a great idea, it's marvellous, I am honoured," said Piggott, whose family and friends were all on hand to watch the occasion. "I had seen the statue before today and it is very good. The Queen also seems in great form."
Mr Newton your work has royal (well racing royalty) approval.
Gardens in King George Kew
Ryan Moore certainly learned from the past master when it comes to interviews and kept his own counsel after a frustrating Friday.
Both Kew Gardens and Pink Dogwood looked to have Group One prizes in the bag when sweeping to the front in the Investec Coronation Cup and Investec Oaks respectively only to be cut down by Defoe and Anapurna.
Moore took a long lingering look at the big screen before dismounting on the latter and given the chance to ride the race again may have opted to play his hand even later. But the filly had put the Oaks to bed only to be cut down by a renewed thrust from her rival.
Given Kew Gardens won last year’s William Hill St Leger it was even more surprising to see him reeled in after striding clear earlier in the afternoon.
He holds entries in the Gold Cup and Hardwicke at Royal Ascot and might go up in trip again for the Irish Leger too – but Aidan O’Brien was quick to point to the King George at Ascot as his next likely stop.
How refreshing to hear that great race appearing nice and early on a top colt’s radar again.
Landmark success for Hannon
Anna Nerium was a landmark winner for trainer Richard Hannon – her success in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes marking his 1000th as a trainer.
It was notable too for Tom Marquand, one of the rising star’s of the weighing room, and a rider who had waited 365 days for redemption after partnering the filly to second place in the 2018 renewal.
She flew home that day but was still three-quarters-of-a-length adrift of Wilamina at the line.
Marquand said: “Last year in this race, she was slow away and got squeezed out early. I felt I was unlucky not to win that time around. That was playing on my mind the whole time today. I didn't want to rush her early and I knew she would handle the camber and it worked.
“It is very satisfying to win today and it's Richard's 1,000th winner as well. We were talking about it this morning and he has managed it in about five and a half years, which is about six or seven years quicker than anybody.
“It is a phenomenal achievement for him and for a pretty special filly in Anna Nerium to do it for him is pretty sweet. I adore this filly."
Roger nearly bashes the bookies
On the face of it Tauteke was a strange gamble in the Investec Oaks. After all she hardly topped many people’s notebooks going into the race after a satisfactory – if not earth-shattering – run behind Anapurna in the Lingfield Trial.
But she’s trained by Roger Varian. Who had struck earlier on the card with Defoe and Mountain Angel. And who had backed all three in a treble with a leading bookmaker.
He’ll get over the financial blow of missing out on the windfall (Tauteke an 80/1 chance when the bet was struck) but clearly wont be short of subscribers should he ever opt to do down the tipping line route…
Cup on radar for O'Keefe team
Jedd O’Keeffe was facing up to a welcome dilemma after Jazeel forced Mountain Angel to pull out all the stops in the Investec Wealth & Investment Handicap on Friday.
On only his second start for the Middleham handler he went down, all guns blazing, by a length.
“I’ve always had the John Smith’s Cup in mind for him. I thought it was the right race but Jamie Spencer has got off and said he’s tailormade for Goodwood and a nice handicap there. They’ll go a good gallop and he’s very well balanced so we’ll have to see.”
The fine run continued a very promising start to the new campaign for the blossoming Highbeck Stables team and the association with owners Quantum Racing goes from strength-to-strength.
“They’ve got six horses with us and it’s going really well. Jonathan Ramsden, their racing manager, sources the horses at the sales, we train them and then identify the targets, tactics etc together.”
It’s a partnership worth following.
