Dubai Simon Crisford, Godolphin’s former racing manager, saddled his first ever Epsom winner when Al Bandar landed the Investec Specialist Bank Handicap on the opening day of the Derby Festival on Friday.
Ridden by another former Godolphin employee, Silvestre de Sousa, the Ahmad Al Shaikh-owned colt scored by three lengths from Make It Up to give the Englishman a fourth career victory.
“I’m thrilled. So excited. I’ve been in this winner’s circle with Oaks winners, and [1995 Derby winner] Lammtarra, and great, great horses, but to be here with this horse today is just the same - it’s fantastic,” said Crisford.
A former Newmarket correspondent for the Racing Post, Crisford had stints as assistant trainer to John Dunlop and Sir Mark Prescott before joining Godolphin in 1994. As it’s racing manager he was involved with some of the stable’s biggest successes.
The first individual runner he saddled was Knavery, who finished seventh behind Doug Watson’s Layl in a handicap during the Dubai World Cup Carnival.
