A CLASSIC ERROR
Murphy admits Emmet was given a ‘freebie’
EMMET McNAMARA was gifted “a freebie” on Derby winner Serpentine at Epsom on Saturday, the beaten 5-2 favourite Kameko’s rider Oisin Murphy admitted yesterday.
Rival jockeys ignored the leader when McNamara sent 25-1 shot Serpentine into a 12-length advantage – but the pacesetter still had five and a half lengths in hand at the winning post to give trainer Aidan O’Brien, also successful with Love in the Oaks, a record eighth Derby triumph.
Murphy, whose partner – stepping up to a mile and a half after his success in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket – failed to get home in fourth, said: “Emmet McNamara on the winner was getting a freebie in front. It’s frustrating that the order of the race didn’t change that much.
“It was apparent coming round Tattenham Corner that we were very well strung out and the bird might have flown. If you ask any jockey riding in the race, if we had our time again would we have tried to sit closer to Serpentine.
“We possibly would have tried, but none of us were going to make a mid-race manoeuvre, having got into the rhythm of a mile-and-ahalf Classic race.”
While Serpentine could be bound for the St Leger at Doncaster on September 12 – the final Classic of the season is also under consideration for O’Brien’s Irish Derby hero Santiago – Kameko is now set to drop back in trip. “The Juddmonte International is top of the list but he might benefit from a run in between, like the Sussex Stakes,” said Kameko’s trainer Andrew Balding.
❑ HARRY BENTLEY recorded a big-race double at Haydock when landing the bet365 Lancashire Oaks and the bet365 Old Newton Cup on Manuela De Vega and Deja.