As the year continues to relentlessly roll around, the flat racing season is upon us. The next few months will be dominated by flat races, as we look forward to the British Classics. After Cachet won the 1000 Guineas and Coroebus landed the 2000 Guineas, attention is now turned to the Derby. The Group 1 race at the famous Epsom Downs Racecourse, ran for three-year-old colts and fillies, is ran over one mile and four furlongs, and this year is part of the Queen’s jubilee festival.
It’s still hard to call a winner for this year’s race, and even the best horse racing betting site is undecided between Stone Age and Desert Crown. Whoever writes their name in the history books will truly deserve it and join the list of previous Derby winners. Read on, as we look at three of the most recent.
2019 – Anthony Van Dyck
It was typical of Aiden O’Brien to taste success for the last time in front of a full crowd. Still blissfully unaware of anything coronavirus related, the Irish trainer witnessed victory for Anthony Van Dyck first hand.
The best thing about the Derby is its unpredictability, and that was demonstrated from the off when Andrew Blading-trained Bangkok, started off poorly and finished unplaced despite being tipped as one of the favourites. It created space for Anthony Van Dyck to switch left a furlong out, pipping stablemate Japan and Kevin Prendergast’s Madhmoon to secure a record-equalling seventh winner for O’Brien.
The performance of Seamie Heffernan certainly can’t be overlooked either, with the jockey full of praise for the then “I knew he would be with me when I needed him,” he said. “It was a big ask of him, but he’s danced every dance. I’m happy.”
2020 – Serpentine
Running a month later due to the coronavirus pandemic, the postponed 2020 Derby was won by O’Brien once again, this time with Serpentine. In a win that shocked the horse racing tips, the 25/1 outsider saw off competition from previous Group 1 winners like Amhran Na Bhfiann and Mogul to reign supreme and set a winning record for his stable. Emmet McNamara was aboard to win behind closed doors, but Serpentine has struggled with consistency since, winning just the one race at Ascot in the October Championship Stakes since that memorable afternoon at Epsom.
2021 – Adayar
The best thing about the Epsom Derby is the shocks it can offer, Adayar’s victory certainly surprised a few in Surrey as the Charlie Appleby-trained horse won the most recent edition of the Derby. Having come tantalisingly close in the [JP1] Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield, the then three-year-old entered a fifth career race with some optimism, but not many expected Adam Kirby to be in the saddle. He was supposed to be aboard John Leeper before the legendary Frankie Dettori stepped in, putting a spanner in the jockey’s plans.
Nonetheless, he and Adayar put in a fantastic display, finishing ahead of 50/1 overachiever Mojo Star and Hurricane Lane to secure a victory worthy of a place in the history books; one that Kirby won’t forger anytime soon.
“This is the Derby lads – get in there!” he said emotionally. Despite his plans changing due to Dettori, Kirby showed his resiliency and spoke about how things just fell into his lap. “I just thought ‘don’t be bitter, be better’, and it’s worked out great.
“There are ups and downs, there are swings and roundabouts, but I can’t thank Charlie Appleby enough. He is a true gentleman and a great trainer. The Appleby team are second to none. I’ve always said I’d rather win a Derby than be champion jockey. I think it’s the greatest race.”
