Joy for Godolphin as Masar wins The Derby at Epsom

Trainer Aidan O’Brien had five runners in a field of 12 and was seeking a record-equalling seventh Derby but his heavily-fancied Saxon Warrior could only finish fourth behind Dee Ex Bee in was second and Roaring Lion in third.

The victory was made even more special given it was 23 years since Lammtarra surged to glory in a green and white strand of the Maktoum family, and Buick broke new ground as the first jockey ever to pass the Derby’s winning post in front wearing the Godolphin blue.

It had been only 24 hours earlier when their strongly fancied Oaks favourite Wild Illusion came up short in a race that yet again was claimed by a rival trained by O’Brien for the Coolmore stable. Here he claimed his second classic of the season when son Donnacha rode Forever Together to a four-and-a-half length victory in the Oaks.

Had he made it five wins out of five, unbeaten 2,000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior was expected to attempt the Triple Crown – last achieved by Nijinsky in 1970 – by competing in September’s St Leger.

But O’Brien’s hopes of an Epsom double were denied as jockey Ryan Moore could find no way through a congested field in the one mile four furlongs showpiece.

Having travelled well from the start, Masar grabbed the lead from Hazapour and Frankie Dettori just over a furlong from home. At that point Saxon Warrior, who had been ridden patiently by Moore, was already beaten, and while all he could do was stay on steadily, Masar devoured the final hill to score by a length and a half. Roaring Lion finished half a length adrift of Dee Ex Bee in third. Donnacha O’Brien was ninth on Kew Gardens.

Ironically Masar had come in third behind Saxon Warrior and Tip Two Win in last month’s 2,000 Guineas, but gained more than ample revenge on this occasion.

Appleby said: “It’s not sunk in yet. It still feels a dream.

“I’m delighted for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed – firstly for giving me the position to be here. I’ve always said when I started this job I wanted to be the first person to have a Derby winner in Godolphin blue.”

Buick, twice a winner of the St Leger, said: “I’ve come close a couple of times. I’ve had seven or eight rides and I was wondering if my time was ever going to come.

“He stayed the trip; he travelled beautifully. The Guineas didn’t happen for him, but he’s a very good horse and the team believed in him.
“Since I wanted to be a jockey this was the day I was dreaming of.”

Success in The Derby completed a double on the card for Buick as he rode Century Dream to success in the Group 3 Diomed Stakes. Riding for trainer Simon Crisford, the pair came in two and a quarter lengths clear of Gabrial in second and True Valour in third.

There was also a double for jockey Silvestre De Sousa as he rode the winners in the last two races of the day.
The first came in Out Of The Ordinary Handicap as favourite Dash of Spice came in a comfortable ix lengths clear of Golden Wolf and Across the Stars in second and third respectively. That was followed by success in the Investec Asset Management Handicap (For The Tokyo Trophy) as joint favourite Aces led home Russian Realm and Shanghai Glory to win by a length and three-quarters.

Frankie Dettori may have been out of luck in The Derby but he did have the consolation of winning the Princess Elizabeth Stakes.
Joint favourite Wilamina came in three-quarters of a length ahead of Anna Nerium and the other joint favourite Shenanigans to win the Group 3 chase for trainer Martyn Meade.