JOCKEY KING Richard’s Desert Crown ride
IN A Derby run in memory of the late Lester Piggott, who was successful a record nine times in the Epsom Classic, Richard Kingscote produced a masterclass aboard Desert Crown that the iconic rider would have approved of.
Kingscote might have been having only his second ride in yesterday’s 243rd running of the world’s most recognised Flat race but it was a carbon copy of the way Piggott weaved his magic at Epsom.
Always well placed in the first six, it was just a matter of waiting for the handbrake to be released and when Kingscote let Desert Crown go, it was decisive.
The winning distance was two-and-half lengths but it could have been trebled if the colt was asked for an effort.
The 150-1 outsider Hoo Ya Mal stayed on to take second place, withwestover coming from out of the clouds to snatch third spot.
Winning trainer Sir Michael Stoute, landing the prize for a sixth time and the oldest to take the prize at 86, was given three cheers hip-hooray in the winners’ enclosure.
“It was wrong,” said Stoute after receiving the cheers. “It should have been for the horse although I very much appreciated it. It has been a great afternoon.
“I’m proud that I’m the oldest trainer to win the Derby and I’m proud of the horse.”
The Newmarket’s trainer’s slice of history surpassed 75-year-old Mat Dawson, who saddled Sir Visto to victory in 1895.
Stoute, last successful in the Derby with Workforce in 2010, added: “You realise that your chances lessen but I wasn’t paranoid about it.
“I was hoping one would come along – and he did.
“His performance has delighted me because he had it won a long way out. He has such a good mind to go with his abilities.
“It has been a lot of years since our last Derby winner, which I didn’t think there would be.”
As for comparisons with his past Derby legends, Stoute added: “Shergar was very special. Desert Crown hasn’t quite reached that stage but he has potential.
“It is a delight to train good horses and fortunately we have come across another good one.
“It’s very nice winning the Derby in the Platinum Jubilee year but I’m sad I didn’t win it for the Queen.
“I think we were unlucky with
Carlton House (who was third behind Pour Moi in 2011).That would have been the biggest thrill.”
Regarding future plans for the colt, who was having only his third race, nothing will be decided until the dust has settled but the sky’s the limit for this exceptional racehorse.
After passing the winning post, Kingscote said: “I got goosebumps pulling up, realising you’ve won the Derby. “But at the two-furlong pole, it was all over.
“I think it took a lot of guts from Sir Michael and the owner to maybe stick with me in a Derby.”
As for the ride that mirrored Piggott, Kingscote said: “It’s just how it happened really.”
It was only the third time The Queen had missed the Derby since first attending as a Princess in 1946, but there was some consolation to the day for Her Majesty when Steal A March carried her colours to victory atworcester earlier in the afternoon. In the rare absence of the lady that wears the crown, a colt – Desert Crown – was the monarch of Epsom Downs yesterday.
BOOKMAKERS were left counting the cost of Desert Crown’s pulsating victory.
The Dante Stakes hero was 15-8 on the morning of the race before drifting to 11-4 favourite, before late money saw his odds cut to 5-2 just before the off.
“Desert Crown went into this year’s race as the unbeaten favourite and his many supporters never really had a moment’s worry throughout the race,” said Coral’s David Stevens.
“When the favourite wins the biggest betting race of the Flat season, it’s never going to be anything other than a costly result for the bookies, and the industry will be facing a multi-million pound payout on this special Jubilee weekend.”