Ryan Moore and Workforce win Derby
The statistics said that Workforce would not win the Investec Derby.
He had finished second to Cape Blanco in the Dante Stakes at York last month and no horse who had been beaten in the Dante had gone on to win the Derby. Ryan Moore and Sir Michael Stoute were aware of this but also knew that the colt was better than he had shown.
As for Workforce he did not have a clue about statistics. What he did have was talent to burn and, in the furnace-like cauldron of Epsom, he glowed with white-hot intensity to win by seven lengths in a record time of two minutes 31.33 seconds, beating the previous race record set by Lammtarra in 1995. Moore, who won a first British Classic 24 hours earlier on Snow Fairy in the Investec Oaks, became the first rider since Kieren Fallon in 2004 to win both Epsom Classics in the same season.
Shergar may have won by further and, as a spectacle, it may not be a race that remains seared into the memory of every one of the 100,000 who flocked to a sun-drenched Surrey Downs but it was a vindication of Moore’s faith in the colt.
When Workforce had been beaten in the Dante Stakes, having hated the fast ground to the point that steering became such a problem that Moore pulled the bit through the horse’s mouth as he struggled to maintain an even keel, he said to trainer Sir Michael Stoute: “Don’t be disappointed – I’m not”.
The turning point may have been a gallop at Lingfield last week, where the application of an Australian noseband proved that the guidance systems were now fully working. It also confirmed that the promise this big colt had shown through the spring gallops could be transmitted to the track on the day that matters above all others.
And Workforce delivered, first class. The first drama of the race was a possible non-runner; not a horse but Kieren Fallon, who missed his early rides on the card due to be held up in traffic. He finally arrived in time to ride Al Zir for Godolphin but their main hopes rested with Frankie Dettori’s ride, Rewilding, and the bulk of backers were still loading the money on the favourite, Jan Vermeer, trained by Aidan O’Brien and the choice of stable jockey Johnny Murtagh.
Jan Vermeer had drifted in the betting in the previous 48 hours but was still the market leader when the stalls crashed open and it was one of his stable companions, At First Sight, who disputed the early lead with Azmeel. Seamus Heffernan was slowly winding up the pace on At First Sight on the rise to Tattenham Hill. Behind him Bullet Train seemed to be in the prime position, just tracking the pace, while Moore was back in about seventh, on the inside of Jan Vermeer with Rewilding behind the pair.
Heffernan kicked on the run down to Tattenham Corner and suddenly he was six lengths clear coming into the home straight. Behind him several runners were hitting a brick wall in terms of being in contention and one of the biggest shock results in the Derby was becoming a possibility. But Workforce was just about to hit his full, ground-devouring stride.
The winning post was two furlongs away from the leader but Workforce was getting far closer. He drew level and passed At First Sight in just half a furlong and then powered clear to win by seven lengths, with At First Sight holding Rewilding for second, with Jan Vermeer in fourth.
The victory may have lacked the obvious authority of a Sea The Stars last year – or the stunning visual appeal of Shergar in 1981 - but, for a horse contesting only his third race, Workforce is still very much a work in progress. Moore’s progress remains equally impressive and this quiet man gave a hint of what a first Derby victory truly meant to him. “To me it’s the most important race,” he said. “It’s a special day and it’s been really nice to get a great reception from my family, friends and weighing –room colleagues.
“He travelled very smoothly and the gap opened up beautifully. He showed great acceleration and I was actually in front sooner than I wanted to be. He quickened up really well and it was a great performance.”
Stoute was winning the race for a fifth time but familiarity with the greatest prize in racing has certainly not bred any form of contempt from the trainer. “It’s one of the great feelings because this is one of the great races, if not the greatest of them all,” Stoute said, adding of his emotions in the race “In the last two furlongs I just hoped that Ryan hadn’t gone too far too soon.”
In Moore, Stoute has found the kindred spirit. “I’m particularly delighted for Ryan, who has put a lot of effort into this horse,” Stoute said. “He’s got a lot of natural talent, a very good racing brain and he’s ambitious – it’s a joy to have him around. The Derby is the race he most wanted to win, and having done that he’ll probably want to win the next one.”
Statistics suggest that jockeys rarely win successive Derbys. Not that such a fact is likely to both Moore.
http://www.senore.com/At-First-Sight-sees-only-second-in-Derby-a12132
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http://www.senore.com/Antara-flying-high-for-Saeed-bin-Surror-a12127
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