Queen’s Derby hopes dashed as horses are withdrawn

THE Queen’s hopes for fulfilling her long-held dream of winning the Derby in time for her Platinum Jubilee celebrations are over, after all three of her horses were withdrawn.

Reach For The Moon, which was a 7-1 chance for the Epsom race on June 4, will miss the Classic as will her outsiders, Educator and General Idea.

The Derby is the only one of the five Classics the Queen has never won as an owner. The closest she has come to the title was a second place finish, four days after her coronation in 1953.

John Gosden, Reach For The Moon’s trainer, told the Racing Post yesterday that he had “run out of time” to get the horse fit enough to race, after an injury late last year, but added: “He will be pointed towards Royal Ascot.”

Educator was a 40-1 chance and General Idea was at 66-1.

William Haggas, the trainer of both horses, said: “General Idea is a maiden and he will be all right one day and Educator would have a lot to do to win a Derby as it stands. I hope, though, he will be a very nice horse one day.”

It is hoped that Educator, which is being aimed at a handicap at Epsom on the same day as the Derby, will, at least, give the Queen a consolation winner on the day.

Organisers have made meticulous plans for the Queen to attend the event, despite her decreased mobility at 96, including arriving through a back entrance to take a lift up to her box.

In October, it was announced that she would be inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame, in recognition of her support for the industry and the global investment it can attract as a result of her interest.

John Warren, bloodstock and racing adviser to the Queen, said that she would be filled with “inner pride” at receiving the honour, with her “unwavering” fascination and “deep understanding” of training and breeding.