Dubai: From Shergar to Sea The Stars and Diomed to Nijnsky, the Investec Derby (G1) has been won by some of the turf’s greatest horses and Golden Horn added his name to that distinguished list when romping home an imperious winner at Epsom on Saturday.
Ridden by Frankie Dettori the John Gosden-trained Dante Stakes (G2) winner’s superior acceleration obliterated the hopes of Godolphin’s Jack Hobbs, who briefly led a furlong from home. for a 3 1/2 length victory.
Storm The Stars made it a 2-3 for Dubai-owned horses in the great race when running on for third under Pat Cosgrave. He is owned by Shaikh Juma Dalmouk Al Maktoum.
A genuinely emotional Dettori, who was winning only his second Derby after Authorized in 2007, gushed: “ I was just a passenger [but] we won the Derby!”
Gosden, who saddled the first two home added: “My last words to Frankie were ‘give it a cool ride’ and he gave it a cool ride.
“He didn’t settle. He was fighting him for the first furlong, but Frankie got him switched off.
Jack’s run a great race too and we would take him to the Irish Derby now.”
Earlier Buratino, racing in the colours of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, booked his ticket to next month’s Royal Ascot meeting when streaking to a six-length victory in the Listed Investec Woodcote Stakes.
The son of Exceed And Excel is now a 8/1 chance (from 25/1) for the Group 1 Coventry Stakes, the opening day’s feature event for two-year-olds.
Trainer Mark Johnson said: “Sometimes he shows sparkling form at home and on the course and at other times he’s laid back and not so impressive.
“But today William [Buick] said that was the real deal and a lot better than at Sandown [when second over five furlongs to King Of Rooks].
“Today the horse seemed much happier and William said we would have no hesitation taking him to Royal Ascot. We always thought the Norfolk Stakes [over five furlongs] would be the race for him there, but he’s come to lead from midfield today and I think the six furlongs probably suits him better,” the Middleham handler added.
“Things have moved on a lot since the start of the season, but he’s obviously right up there among my best juveniles.”
Buick, who has had 12 previous Royal Ascot wins but none in the Doventry, added: “That was a good performance. It’s not very often that that race sees that performance. But he’s come on all the way and he’s thrived off his racing. It would be fair to say I was pretty impressed.”
Pat Dobbs, who enjoyed one of his best ever seasons in the UAE in 2014-2015 with 31 winners, picked up a career-first Group 1 success aboard the brilliant Pether’s Moon in the Group 1 Investec Coronation Cup.
Dobbs rode a patient race aboard Richard Hannon’s stable star to bring down the hot-favourite Dolniya, ridden by Belgian ace Christophe Soumillon.
Alain de Royer-Dupre’s Dolniya, winner of the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan Racecourse in March, was sent off at odds of 8-11 but Dobbs’ tactical brilliance in the final 100 metres lowered the French star’s colours.
Dobbs, said: “He was very good. He’s loads of ability, but he pulls up when he gets to the front.
“Even though I got there late, I could feel him pulling up in the last 50 yards, but he’s got plenty of class.”
Hannon added: “I must admit I didn’t see that coming. His last run was very moderate. He’s been around the circuit this horse and probably deserves a bit more credit than he gets, he might go to Melbourne (Melbourne Cup), I don’t know.
“Pat has given him a super ride”
Royer-Dupre took the defeat with a pinch of salt and said: “With four runners it became a tactical race. We had to go in front and the winner has obviously had more turn of foot and that made a difference.
“I was not disappointed with the performance, she ran well. She may go to the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud now.”
