Epsom Derby Festival Recap

Hi all,

Inside today’s main piece you can read my Epsom Derby Festival recap.

It’s only June 3rd, but four of the five English Classics are already done and dusted for another year.The ground was good to soft at Epsom on Derby Day although the times on the 5f track suggest it was closer to good.

Epsom Derby: City Of Troy Silences Doubters

This year's Derby was highly anticipated, with pundits and fans alike eager to see if Aidan O’Brien could finally secure a win after missing out on the first five Classics in Britain and Ireland. As it turned out, Saturday was the day O’Brien’s fortunes changed courtesy of City Of Troy.  You can watch the race here.

All the pundits, me included, had said this year’s Derby was full of possibilities and an open race. We got the first bit right but not the second.

The race began with drama as Voyage unseated his rider, causing a stir right from the start. Despite this early excitement, Aidan O’Brien’s faith in City Of Troy was justified as he ran out a decisive winner of the 2024 Epsom Derby.

City Of Troy’s stablemate Euphoric set a good pace along with the riderless horse and another stablemate, Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Ryan Moore had City Of Troy tucked away at the back.

Coming into the straight, most of the 16 runners were off the bridle, except for Los Angeles, Ambiente Friendly, and City Of Troy, who had yet to be asked for his effort.

Ambiente Friendly was cantering down the outside three furlongs out, but on the inside, City Of Troy was making relentless headway and had the speed to take the gap when it opened. He went from tenth to the lead in a furlong, and that was it. Once he took the lead, the eventual runner-up couldn’t peg him back.

Some may say that the jockey on the runner-up was blindsided by the winner’s move on the inner and should have kicked on instead of waiting. That argument has some merit, but I think City Of Troy would still have outstayed him.

Epsom Derby Verdict

City Of Troy is a very well-balanced horse who stays one mile four furlongs well and was the winner the race needed. It will be interesting to see how he’s campaigned from now onwards. You would think that ‘the lads’ will go to the Curragh for the Irish Derby rather than drop him down to 1m 2f for the Coral Eclipse at Sandown. However, surely the big target will be the Breeders’ Cup Classic on the dirt for the son of Justify.

It might sound like a conspiracy theory, but does anyone else think that Aidan O’Brien deliberately left City Of Troy ‘undercooked' for the 2000 Guineas to avoid a potential St Leger and Triple Crown bid?  With a Triple Crown bid out off the table ‘the lads’ can concentrate on the big American race which will do more for the colts stallion prospects.

Ambiente Friendly would probably have preferred quicker ground and looked the winner two furlongs out. He just had no answer to a classier horse over 1m 4f. A drop back to 1m 2f for the Coral Eclipse looks perfect for him, and I could see him getting much closer to the winner over that distance.

Back in third, Los Angeles didn’t have the pace to match the pair that beat him but looked like a St Leger horse.

There was plenty of deadwood in the race, and only the first three home and the unseated horse Voyage are worth noting. We won’t know how good a Derby it was for a few months, but my initial assessment is that City Of Troy is a slightly above-average winner with potential to do better. In the coming weeks, it will be interesting to see if Ambiente Friendly and Los Angeles prove to be genuine Group 1 horses.

Epsom Oaks Review: Ezeliya Queen of the Downs

On Friday, we had the pleasure of enjoying both the Oaks and the Coronation Cup at Epsom.

Firstly, it wasn’t a great Oaks. There were plenty of non-stayers, and I can’t remember an Oaks where so many fillies didn’t handle the track. The race was run at a good gallop, with Ezeliya nicely placed, travelling beautifully, and handling the track very well.

Two furlongs out, Ezeliya challenged the leader, Dance Sequence, and stayed on strongly to secure the victory. The winner is improving and could yet develop into a top-class filly. Bred to win a Classic, Ezeliya is a stayer with a turn of foot and was a well-deserved winner.

Key Performances

Ezeliya

Ezeliya showcased her potential and class, indicating she could become a top-notch filly. Her performance was impressive, particularly her ability to handle the track and maintain a strong pace.

Dance Sequence

The runner-up, Dance Sequence, still holds potential, but she may be better suited to shorter distances as she seemed to struggle to stay the 1m 4f. Not for the first time this season, she wandered in the closing stages like she had been on the sherry before the race. After her performance in the Nell Gwyn, I thought she might benefit from headgear to help her concentrate, and this race has only reinforced that belief. While clearly talented, she is one to approach cautiously.

War Chimes

War Chimes (50/1) ran an excellent race for David Menuisier to finish third. Despite not handling the track well and being caught out wide, she delivered a commendable performance that deserves recognition.

Ylang Ylang was never travelling and the favourite was a beaten horse before stamina became an issue. I think she can bounce back from this lacklustre effort. Her stablemate Rubies Are Red didn’t handle the track well and probably wasn’t good enough.

As for the rest, they seemed to be Group 3/Listed fillies at best and performed accordingly.

The Power of the Tissue

Just over a week ago in this column, I said:

“Ylang Ylang is the right favourite on form. However, Ezeliya is open to further improvement at 1m 4f, and she’s my pick.”

Yet, I ended up suggesting Ylang Ylang as Friday’s selection at 2/1 & bigger. Hopefully, you failed to get the 2/1 and instead heeded my tissue for the race. I had Ezeliya at 3/1, so when the filly drifted out to 7/1, like me, you had to have a unit or two on her. To my mind it's always worth doing your own tissue for a big race.

Coronation Cup: Pace Wins The Race

The old saying “pace wins the race” was evident in Friday’s Group 1 Coronation Cup. It looked like Luxembourg would get an uncontested lead, and so it proved. Ryan Moore set the right fractions out in front, and once he upped the tempo three furlongs out, the race was won.

Key Performances

Luxembourg

Ryan Moore’s impeccable front-running ride on Luxembourg ensured victory. Setting the right pace from the start and increasing the tempo at the perfect moment, Moore left his rivals unable to respond to the tactical nature of the race. Full credit to Moore for executing the perfect front-running strategy.

Hamish

Hamish ran an excellent race to stay on and finish within a length of the winner. Despite his strong performance, he had no chance against a well-ridden Luxembourg.

Emily Upjohn

The favourite, Emily Upjohn, was weak in the pre-race betting and finished a well-beaten fourth. Trainer John Gosden had indicated that she might need the run, but this was still a disappointing performance. A more evenly run race would have suited her better, but it’s possible that she’s not the horse she once was. Her next outing in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot will be revealing.

Feed The Flame

French challenger Feed The Flame needed a more strongly run race and didn’t seem comfortable with the track’s undulations. He’s one to watch in future races with a more suitable pace and track.

Summary

Ryan Moore’s tactical acumen was the story of the Coronation Cup. His perfectly judged front-running ride on Luxembourg was too much for his four rivals to handle. It was a masterclass in pacesetting and tactics, proving once again that the right pace can indeed win the race.

Monday Racing.

There’s €108,000 on offer to the winner to the winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Gowran Classic (3:35) at Gowran Park.  It’s not my sort of race and I’m more interested in the races at Ayr and Windsor.

Ayr

3:45 – Westernesse was awkward at the start but managed to finish a neck third out of ten at Ripon 15 days ago. The visor goes on for the first time, and he’s running off the same mark as last time, which is also his last winning mark. He has a big chance today.

Windsor

Source Racing Post:

6:45 – Jimmy Speaking has shown significant improvement from two to three years old, winning both his starts this season. He's up 4lb and moving up in class, with cheekpieces on for the first time. While he was a non-runner at Newmarket due to good to firm ground, the same underfoot conditions at Windsor might be a concern. The other to interest me in the race is Trefor. Trefor finished a good ¾ length second out of 17 at Newmarket on his seasonal return but only managed fourth out of 11 back at that venue last time. He's been dropped 1lb from last time and is down in class. He won over course and distance last season on good to firm ground, making him a strong contender.

Monday Selection:

I really like Jimmy Speaking but I'm holding fire until I know the going and indeed if indeed he's a runner. That leaves me with a pick from this afternoon's card at Ayr.

Ayr

3:45 – Westernesse – 7/2 @ Bet365.

In Tuesday’s column I will complete my look back at the Epsom Derby Festival. Plus, there’ll be couple of future winners from the meeting for the tracker.

Good luck with your Monday bets.

John