My Favourite Derby: Simon Holt reflects on a special moment as Sinndar beat Sakhee in 2000
Simon Holt's favourite Derby was his first terrestrial TV commentary as Sinndar beat fellow future Arc winner Sakhee.
What's your favourite Derby and why? Email racingfeedback@sportinglife.com and we will publish them in the build-up to the great race.
Growing up on the south-east coast about an hour's drive from Epsom, the Derby became an annual outing from quite a young age.
My first in 1981 was a famous one, the year Shergar destroyed his rivals in runaway fashion under Walter Swinburn, prompting BBC Radio commentator Peter Bromley to exclaim: "You need a telescope to see the rest!"
It seemed an impossible dream then that, one day, I might be behind the microphone for this hugely historic, prestigious and significant horse race, but my chance came for 'Channel4 Racing' in 2000.
Just a few months earlier, I had inherited the main commentary role from Graham Goode but the 2000 race was to be the last covered by the channel for some time, and the 2001 Derby, won by Galileo, was described for the BBC by Jim McGrath.
In those days, the Derby seemed to have a new broadcasting home every decade and, after Sinndar's defeat of Sakhee in 2000, I would not get to call the race again until Ruler Of The World's win in 2013.
In the interim period, Channel4 still produced live racing coverage on Derby Day, often some early races at Musselburgh after which we were sometimes able to catch the big race at Edinburgh airport.
So, I called the Derby only five times on terrestrial television but the first turned out to be the best of them.
Needless to say, it was a nerve-racking broadcast in front of one of our biggest audiences of the year. I remember being asked to run through the runners and riders and we used the stirring theme from 'Gladiator', a recent box-office hit, to build up the atmosphere.
There was also a recorded piece with lead presenter Brough Scott, a course walk where we illustrated the demanding uphill start of the race, the sweeping downhill run to Tattenham Corner and the steep camber down the home straight which every Derby winner must conquer.
Notwithstanding the pressure involved, the Derby is always quite challenging to describe as the runners can disappear behind bushes or double-decker buses (fewer these days) around six furlongs from home and then on the descent to that famous home turn.
The TV monitor can often be a better bet than binoculars but the commentary boxes at Epsom have large windows and bright sunshine can produce too much glare on the screen. On such occasions, I envy viewers watching on much bigger screens in their darkened lounge or in a betting shop.
Anyway, as I recall, it was all quite simple down the home straight where Sakhee kicked for home before being run down by Sinndar and Johnny Murtagh in the final furlong, the pair finishing five lengths clear of Beat Hollow.
Sinndar remained unbeaten as a three-year-old and was retired to stud after following up in the Irish Derby at The Curragh, in the Prix Niel and then in the Arc.
As for Sakhee, he went missing after finishing only fourth to Giant's Causeway in the Eclipse a few weeks later but returned to win all three of his races in 2001 including a seven length romp in the Juddmonte International before also adding the Arc that October in superb fashion by six lengths.
So you can see why my first Derby in the commentary box, calling home two future Arc winners, is my favourite.
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