Golden Horn Blows Away Rivals in Epsom Derby

In a perfectly-judged ride from Frankie Dettori, Golden Horn dispelled all doubts about his staying power when trouncing rivals in a 3 1/2-length Investec Epsom Derby (Eng-I) win June 6.

 

Anthony Oppenheimer's homebred son of Cape Cross led stablemate Jack Hobbs across the finish line, giving trainer John Gosden a one-two finish in the English classic. Kentucky-bred Storm the Stars was third, another 4 3/4 lengths back.

 

Eager to race early, Golden Horn was settled toward the back of the field and was running along comfortably, with just three horses behind him entering the stretch, 10 lengths off longtime front-runner Hans Holbein, who set a quick tempo.

 

Moved to the outside, the winner unhurriedly closed ground down the center of the course, but when Jack Hobbs struck the lead with more than a furlong remaining, Dettori summoned the best from his mount. Golden Horn readily pounced with a relentless rally and surged clear inside the final furlong for the decisive win.

 

Golden Horn finished 1 1/2 miles on firm turf in 2:32.32.

 

"Golden Horn was quite keen early and took Frankie on," Gosden told Racing Post. "The last thing I said to Frankie was ride a cool race and he rode a cool race—he waited and waited. He's a proper horse."

 

Gosden won the 1997 Derby with Benny the Dip.

 

Golden Horn was supplemented at cost of £75,000 after his 2 3/4-length victory over Jack Hobbs and Elm Park (10th in the Derby) in the extended 10-furlong Dante Stakes May 14 at York. In his two other career starts, he won the listed Feilden Stakes in April at Newmarket and a maiden race at Nottingham last year in his debut.

 

Golden Horn is out the unraced Dubai Destination mare, Fleche d'Or, a half sister to group I-winning miler Rebecca Sharp. Oppenheimer believed his colt to be more of 10-furlong horse and earlier preferred the shorter Prix du Jockey Club (Fr-I, French Derby) until Golden Horn's emphatic victory in the Dante.

 

Golden Horn is the second European classic winner of the season for his sire, joining Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen (Ger-II, German Two Thousand Guineas) winner Karpino. Cape Cross also is the sire of 2009 Epsom Derby winner Sea The Stars and 2004 Epsom Oaks (Eng-I) winner Ouija Board.

 

Dettori was riding in the Derby for the first time since a six-month suspension for a drug violation two years ago and was elated with win, his second after piloting Authorized in 2007.

 

"In the last 100 yards, I couldn't believe I had won the Derby again," he told Racing Post. "I have to pinch myself. I can't get to the bottom of this horse and I couldn't pull him up at the end of the race. He is an unbeaten Derby winner. What more can you say?"

 

Golden Horn is half brother to Antoinette Oppenheimer's English stakes winner Eastern Belle (Champs Elysees), runner-up in the New York Stakes (gr. IIT) for trainer Graham Motion June 5 at Belmont Park. He went unsold on a final bid of 190,000 guineas during the Book 1 portion of the 2013 Tattersalls October yearling sale. His dam was sold to Harry McCalmont for 62,000 guineas a year earlier at Tattersalls December.

 

 

Two races earlier on the card, John Manley's 11-1 shot Pether's Moon went from last to first and won the Investec Coronation Cup (Eng-I) by a neck from 8-11 favorite Dolniya.

 

Trained by Richard Hannon and ridden by Pat Dobbs, the Dylan Thomas 5-year-old covered about 1 1/2 miles in 2:33.76 while earning his first win at the top level and seventh win overall from 21 career starts.