Epsom Review

Hi all,

Inside the main piece you’ll find my thoughts on the big performances from Epsom’s Derby Festival.

We had a six hour power cut on Sunday afternoon/ evening which means I didn’t have a chance to look at Monday’s action in detail. Thankfully the rest of the article had already been written before we lost our electricity.

The Epsom Derby is one of the oldest and most prestigious horse races in the world. Its inaugural running took place in 1780, making it a race steeped in history and tradition. The race garners significant international attention, making it a truly global event.

Add in the unique topography of the track, tests a horses stamina, and agility. And you can see why the race is a unique test of a thoroughbred.

There’s no other Grade 1 racecourse in the world like it. Today, if you were designing a racecourse for a race as prestigious as the Derby, it wouldn’t be Epsom with its camber.  

Prior to the meeting Clerk Of The Course Andrew Cooper was more tight lipped than a Tory MP regards the going. I thought he would put on more water than was reported to start the meeting on the easy side of good. Hands up, I got it totally wrong. Mind you given we have had so many inaccurate going descriptions already this season it was a fair position to take.

Cooper to his credit produced quick flat racing ground. As I said on Saturday kudos to him for doing so. Hopefully we’ll see more of it at racecourses this summer.

Derby Day

You got the sense that Epsom just wanted the Derby run and out of the way as quick as possible.

Animal Rising couldn’t disrupt the event and the race went off on time. However, the early start time and the sense that everything was rushed took the gloss of what is the race of the flat season. It wasn’t as weird as 2020 renewal, but I have to say it wasn’t that far away on the weirdness scale.

Auguste Rodin: A Special Derby Winner?

The occasion and the off the track atmosphere seemed to get to a few horses before the race. Most notably the likes of Arrest and Sprewell who got stirred up in the preliminaries.

One who was unfazed by the hullaballoo was winner Auguste Rodin. He travelled beautifully and handled the track superbly. I think he’ll prove to be an above average winner of the race and I don’t think he’s reached his ceiling just yet.

The Coolmore/O’Brien hype that usually attends a Derby winner aside I think they really do think this colt is a special horse. The best since Australia for sure and maybe their best since Galileo. It will be fascinating to see how far he can go this season.

Two furlongs from home King Of Steel went for home and for a few strides it looked like a race winning move. He went a couple of lengths up on the eventual winner, but Auguste Rodin hunted him down to lead inside the final half furlong and win with a bit in hand.

If Kevin Stott on the runner-up had have realised his horse would quicken up as well as he, did he might well have held onto him a bit longer. It was a mighty effort by him, and he ultimately only faltered in the final 50yds. Whether that was due to not having run this season or he was simply outstayed? I’m not sure.  One thing that we do know he’s a huge horse and given his size he handled the track very well.

The front two pulled clear of the third White Birch. He came from last 3f out to finish and honourable third. However, he had no chance from his position with the pair who finished in front of him.

Of the rest…

Arrest couldn’t provide Frankie Dettori with a final Derby success.  He had got worked up before the race and never handled the track on quick ground. On easier ground and a flatter track, he can bounce back.

Back in fourth Sprewell didn’t get the best of runs 3f out but wouldn’t have finished better than third anyway.

Dante winner The Foxes had every chance 3f out, but he didn’t stay the 1m 4f trip and finished fifth.

Passenger never settled and was another who didn’t stay.  I wonder if connections will regret not taking a more patient approach with the colt. For example, going to Royal Ascot rather than coming to Epsom. Mind you there’s only one Derby so you can’t blame them.

Lingfield Derby Trial winner Military Order finished last of the 14. He didn’t seem to handle the track but surely didn’t give his running. There appears to be something ailing the Charlie Appleby yard.

The first four home could reoppose in the Irish Derby. I think Auguste Rodin will come out on top once more, as he won a shade cosily here. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if White Birch was to get closer to him at the Curragh. As for the runner-up. Might connections be minded to drop him back in trip to 1m 2f for the Eclipse.

I backed Auguste Rodin for a 2,000 Guineas/Derby Double. Last autumn I wrote in this column that I thought the colt was something special.  After his 2,000 Guineas flop, I had lost the faith. Trainer Aidan O’Brien didn’t and that’s all the matters. For those of you followed Aidan and not me you were rewarded with a 9/2 winner.

Oaks Day:

Frankie Dettori stole the headlines on Friday with winning rides in the two Group 1 races on Oaks Day.  Those two winners plus another on Prosperous Voyage on Saturday meant he’s 9 winners from 30 runners at the Epsom Derby Festival since 2017.  Frankie is really enjoying his final season and retirement tour. You get the sense that he’s a really relaxed and on good terms with himself. Its good to see and a complete contrast to last year at Royal Ascot. There will be more big race success for him before he does hang up his saddle.

Hey, Soul Sister

The quick ground was against Oaks favourite Savethelastdance but ideal for winner Soul Sister.

Any doubts about Soul Sister’s stamina for 1m 4f were put to bed by underfoot conditions. The Musidora winner cruised up down the outside and once Frankie Dettori pressed the button there was only going to be one winner.

Soul Sister had the gears that runner-up Savethelastdance and third Caernarfon just didn’t possess.

She’s needs quick ground to be at her best and the drop back to 1m 2f will pose no problem for her either. The Nassau at ‘Glorious’ Goodwood would suit her perfectly.

Savethelastdance was done for speed. It wasn’t the quickest of races and she had no answer to the winners turn of foot in the closing stages. Softer ground and more of a stamina test would have suited her. The St Leger at Doncaster would suit her well should connections decided to go down that route with her.

Caernarfon isn’t bred for 1m 4f and although this wasn’t a serious stamina test at the distance the Jack Channon filly ran a cracker. A drop back to 1m 2f will suit her and she would have good chance in the Prix Diane (French Oaks). She might even be a shade over-priced for that race given her connections. Whatever her fate there’s surely a Group race in the filly.

The front three pulled well clear of the rest. Now I don’t think it will it prove to be the strongest of renewals of the race. However, the winner is a good filly. The second will be seen in a better light on easier ground and I like the thirds attitude.

Emily’s Coronation

It was a sparkling return to action from Emily Upjohn to win Friday’s Group 1 Coronation Cup. So unlucky in last year’s Oaks the filly made good headway on the outside and quickened clear of her rivals 2f out to win comfortably.

The winner is a smart filly who will be a contender for all the top Group 1 prizes this season including the Arc.

Last year’s Irish Derby winner Westover settled well, maybe to well as he had no answer to the winners change of gear. In truth he’s starting to look one paced and needs a much stronger gallop to chase.

The first two home liked the ground the other three runners didn’t. It’s as simple as that.

The third Point Lonsdale was outclassed and needs easier ground. German challenger Tunnes didn’t go to the front as I expected and he’s worth another chance on softer ground. Hurricane Lane was last of the five and was another below par performer from the Charlie Appleby yard.

Epsom Derby Festival Verdict:

From a punting perspective it was awful. Yes, Apollo One, Miss Brazen, Clarendon House, Dutch Decoy, and Marlay Park finished in the places in their races, but I also got plenty wrong. Indeed, it took me until the second last race to get a winner courtesy of Sheer Rocks. In this game you must quickly forget such a couple of days and move on.

We had a good winner of the Derby in Auguste Rodin. Likely he beat a field of non-stayers like The Foxes & Passenger or horses like Arrest and White Birch who didn’t handle the track. But it augurs well for the supremely well-bred winner for the rest of the season.

It’s just a shame the threat from a few extremists meant the race which is one of world great sporting events didn’t get the build-up it deserved.

The Oaks was won by a filly in Soul Sister with an excellent turn of foot on quick ground. I’m not sure how good a race it was. However, a drop down to 1m 2f will suit her and I would love to see her take on the colts over that distance this season.

Emily Upjohn sparkled in the Epsom sunshine in winning the Coronation Cup. She’s a filly with gears but also stays 1m 4f strongly. In receipt of weight from the boys she will be tough to beat in all the Group 1’s she runs in.

Monday Preview

I’m off to Thirsk this afternoon courtesy of my Racing TV membership. I hadn’t realised today’s Club Day ticket also includes access to the Racing TV VIP area. It’s a while since I managed to get access to their VIP facility, and I get Chris Dixon and Graham Cunningham to talk me through the card. 😊

I was going to have look at the Thirsk card, but our power cut meant I didn’t have the opportunity to do so.  So, your left with Windsor.

Windsor

7:15 – Eminency, a firm ground C&D winner last summer, has run well on both this season’s starts including when a length 3rd of 11 at Newmarket 16 days ago. He’s been nudged up 1lb but there are handicaps to be won with him this season and he’s the one to beat.

7:45 – I fancied previous course winner Snapcracklepop to go well over C&D on his seasonal return 21 days ago. However, he could only finish a disappointing 6^th of 9. He might have needed the run more than expected last time and the ground was more testing than the officially described soft.

Monday Selection:

Eminency is short at 5/2 but I think those odds are fair and he's an obvious Monday nap. However, I try to look for something hat’s overpriced, and I think that’s Snapcracklepop at 12/1 & bigger.

Windsor

7:45 – Snapcracklepop – 12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes (paying 3 places).

In Tuesday’s column you’ll find my Epsom eyecatchers.  

Good luck with your Monday bets.

John