euro classic round-up
Was and Seamie Heffernan winning the Oaks. In shot is the Highclere Thoroughbred-owned Vow (fourth) and the second-placed Shirocco Star
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Above all else, the sight of Camelot racing away from his rivals confirmed that the Derby is still what it used to be
sire Montjeu, who died earlier this year, and, of course, the presence of The Queen at the beginning of her Jubilee celebrations, were all good reasons for this victory to be a memorable one. But, above all else, the sight of Camelot racing away from his rivals confirmed that the Derby is still what it used to be, and in fact, if anything, it is more now than it was at the end of the 20th century, and is still the ultimate test for thoroughbreds. At Epsom everyone is looking down on the track, whether you are in the stands above, on the buses on the infield or watching on television, the course telescopes the image,
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Whatever suspense there may have been before the race had largely disappeared by the time the Derby field raced down Tattenham Corner. Aidan O’Brien’s other runner Astrology was racing comfortably in the lead and Bonfire, who had tried to hold a prominent position was already struggling to stay in touch, while Joseph O’Brien and Camelot were obviously going easily at the rear of the field. In the end it was Astrology who proved to be the biggest danger to the favourite and the son of Galileo managed to quicken into a clear lead with 2f to run. O’Brien had to ask his mount for an effort, but Camelot responded almost immediately and raced past his stable companion and into a clear lead. At the post Camelot was 5l in front and, right on the line, the Niarchos family’s Main Sequence pipped Astrology for second place. The first Derby win for Joseph O’Brien, the 200th Group 1 win for his father Aidan, the first-ever for a father and son trainer and jockey combination, the fourth Derby winner in the last eight years for Coolmore
and allows everyone to see the race unfold. And, for those of us who have watched this race more than once in the past, to see one colt come away from his rivals with such ease immediately brings to mind the others who have done so in the past. Racing at Epsom is different and when you add in the crowd lining both sides of the course, it presents a defining and unchanging image. Racing is, in many ways, the most ephemeral of sports, the stars change every few months, and yet it has the closest links with the what has gone before. Every Derby winner is compared with those who have triumphed at Epsom in the