At First Sight sees only second in Derby
Seamus Heffernan could see the winning post but knew that he was never going to make it there first.
Rank outsider At First Sight had been in the race as a pacemaker for stable companion Jan Vermeer in the Investec Derby, but almost stole the show as he led the field into the home straight, until Workforce burst through the pack.
That agonising moment, when Workforce flew past him in the home straight, told the jockey that his chance of winning the Investec Derby had slipped from his grasp for the second successive year. Describing his mount as “very genuine”, Heffernan said: “I’ve been beaten twice now, on a favourite [Fame And Glory last year] and a wild outsider. I suppose experience on the track helps and they let me go. But Aidan O’Brien trains him, you know, so he’s going to be good.”
“Yes, I’m pleased, absolutely,” O’Brien said of his three runners. Aside from At First Sight, Jan Vermeer was fourth and Midas Touch was fifth. “You’ve got to be pleased with that. They were all there and the second horse [At First Sight] stayed well.”
Rewilding, the Godolphin trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni, took third, finishing just a half-length behind the runner-up and his jockey, Frankie Dettori, said: “It was a great run - he didn’t have the gears to go with the winner but stayed on well and will be a lovely St Leger horse.”
Johnny Murtagh, whose mount Jan Vermeer lost two shoes during the race but still managed to take fourth place, said: “He probably did not handle the track. I was in front of Ryan Moore, we turned in upsides, we went down the inside and he quickened up. My horse never gave me a good feel and I was not confident at any stage.”
Saeed bin Suroor’s runner, Al Zir, finished sixth for Kieren Fallon and the trainer said: “He’s still a big baby and I think he’s more a horse for the future.” adding “I think later in the season he’ll be a better horse. Kieren said he was happy with him, with the way he finished his race. I think a mile-and-a-quarter or a mile-and-a-half is no problem for him, he’s definitely not a St Leger horse.”
http://www.senore.com/Ryan-Moore-and-Workforce-win-Derby-a12133
http://www.senore.com/Johnny-Murtagh-takes-High-Award-in-Woodcote-Stakes-a12131
http://www.senore.com/Antara-flying-high-for-Saeed-bin-Surror-a12127
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