Investec Derby and Oaks played out same day
Jockey Emmet McNamara rides Serpentine to victory in the Derby Stakes at the Epsom Derby Festival, south of London on July 4, 2020.
What you need to know:
- Emmet could easily have hand and heeled him, but heat of the moment brought out some unnecessary whippings.
Never happened before, two Classics, but proved to be a rather delicious fare for viewers, who tuned into Epsom Downs for an afternoon of rocking arm-chairs.
Connections of all the beautiful thoroughbreds, were admirably decked out in their butterfly collars, top hats, tail coats, and, polished determination, to epitomise traditional derby traits.
Motlo braaaavo to Emmet McNamara, Aidan O'Brien, and, Serpentine, cleverly shooting to the 241st running of Investec's Derby, without being collared.
Jockey Emmet McNamara with the trophy after victory on Serpentine in the Derby Stakes at the Epsom Derby Festival, south of London on July 4, 2020.
Nothing whispered close to Serpentine's lengthy strides, a ravenous 25-1, as most of the field assumed wrongly, that there would soon be a shortage of oxygen in his hardy lungs.
Emmet could easily have hand and heeled him, but heat of the moment brought out some unnecessary whippings.
TEN FURLONGS
Strangely enough, Guineas winners rarely make the Derby grade, as was Kameko's display, not really enjoying an extra 800 metres. He will likely reduce future commitments to less than ten furlongs.
Maybe the Juddmonte International. At least he made the money in fourth spot. Osin Murphy did not find comfort trying to make a little headway past stable familiar companion, Khalifa Sat, ridden by Tom Marquand, who was jocked off English King with preference shown towards Frankie Dettori.
Tom went second to have the last laugh at 50-1. English King used all his energy and was nearly spent en transit to the gates. Eagle eyes dicipher these essential details.
He did find fifth, and has stamina requisite for the Saint Leger. Amhran Na Bhfiann nipped third at 66-1, Mogul sixth, Russian Emperor, then Vatican City, while the other eight were done-in.
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Pedigree aside, just the name said everything. Love (Ryan Moore 6-5), gained plenty strength to step up to the Oaks podium in exquisite fashion. It makes the Arc de Triomphe her next obvious port of call.
Enable is still jolly enterprising and Love will have that challenge. Love honed in to the 2,400 metre like a professional, not losing any glitter. She could have gone another circuit. This augurs well for the Irish Oaks later this month.
Jockey Emmet McNamara rides Serpentine (R) to victory in the Derby Stakes at the Epsom Derby Festival, south of London on July 4, 2020. PHOTO | DAN ABRAHAM | AFP
It will need a real special quantity to mask Love's inbuilt ambitiousness. Her time was 2:34:6/10 seconds. Owned by Michael Tabor, Derick Smith, and, John Magnier, Love was bred at Coolmore sired by Galileo, as is Serpentine.
Ennistymon (Seamie Heffernan 6-1), Frankly Darling (Frankie Dettori 6-4), and, Queen Danerys (William Buick), trailed in behind for places. Tiempo Viela justified 100-1 by tailing off eighteen lengths adrift.
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Summer Romance (William Buick 3-1), a pretty shade of grey, held off Cloak of Spirits (Andrea Atzeni 5-1), and, Rose of Kildare (Joe Fanning 10-1), in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes.
