Pyledriver out of luck as outsider grabs glory

PYLEDRIVER, Wales’ big hope in the Epsom Derby, failed to land a blow as Serpentine enjoyed a shock runaway victory in the big race.

He could only finish down the field in 11th as Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien won the race for a record eighth time.

Pyledriver, who was bred in Abergavenny and is owned by Cardiff brothers Guy and Huw Leach together with their friend Roger Devlin, was sent off at 16-1 following his impressive win at Royal Ascot last month.

But he was hampered in the early stages and shuffled back to the back of the field. Meantime, Serpentine – who had initially looked to be filling the rile of pacemaker for his more-fancied stable companions – slipped the field rounding the home turn and was fully 12 lengths clear as he entered the straight.

Khalifa Sat and fellow O’Brien contender Amhran Na Bhfiann were the only ones to really try to go with him, but the Galileo colt was not for stopping and galloped all the way to the line for a five-and-a-half-length verdict.

Khalifa Sat, a 50-1 shot, hung on for second, while Amhran Na Bhfiann was third at 66-1.

Kameko, winner of the 2000 Guineas, was fourth, having been sent off the 5-2 favourite, while English King was fifth and Mogul sixth under Ryan Moore.

O’Brien said: “We try to give each horse the best chance of winning and ride them all accordingly.

“This horse (Serpentine) made the running last time and was very happy to go forward if nobody else wanted to. He won a maiden very impressively and he absolutely ran through the line over a mile and a quarter at the Curragh. To do that you have to have class.

“We all watched the race together at home and Donnacha (O’Brien, son) said after five furlongs ‘Emmet wins here’. He was in front and there was no one going to challenge him. He was not going to stop.

“Emmet gave him a brilliant ride and judged the pace really well.”

On setting a new record for Derby victories, he added: “We’re so delighted, but we’re in a privileged position to have such unbelievable horses and to work for and with such special people.

“It’s a position very few people will ever get into. The horses have incredible pedigrees and everyone puts their heart and soul into it day in, day out. Everyone loves what they do and we appreciate all the opportunities that we get.”