Epsom Derby
 

Taken by Auguste Rodin for Aidan O'Brien. Coming in off a troubled 12th place finish in the 2000 Guineas - gets redemption on the stretchout to 1m1/2.
The runner up was brilliant in defeat. King Of Steel, unraced since a 7th place finish behind todays winner last October, knifed through and opened up on the field before being run down.

The favorite, Arrest, was washy before the race and ran to his looks for Juddmonte/Gosden/Dettori, finishing 10th I believe.

The runner up must be a huge horse as he towered over Auguste Rodin, who is no runt.

By the way, King of Steel was entered to run in the Dante Stakes last month, one of the main preps. However, he was upset in the starting gate & was a late scratch.

Apparently its very rare for a colt to make his 3yo debut in the Derby and run well. Wonder what he would have done in the Dante.

Jockey gave him a great, patient ride & had some luck to have running room from down inside. Auguste Rodin was relentless though and was able to reel him in.

Isn't Lammterra the only one to do it, at least in relative recent memory?

To win it, yes, I believe so. Not sure how many others have attempted it.

After watching the post-race interviews, it's evident that Coolmore considers this horse some sort of reincarnation of Sunday Silence (his grandsire).

Both trainer and jockey gushed about Sunday Silence post race. Horse has same markings, physique, and way of going as his grandsire. Ryan Moore even mentioned the 1989 Preakness.

Now that he has no chance to win the Triple Crown, I wonder if they will allude to the 1989 Belmont to opt out of the St. Leger...

Aidan always had faith in him despite his terrible run in the Guineas. Pleased for him a real gentleman.

Yesterday, however was a very special day for me. I am part of a large syndicate and our horse was running in one of the supporting races. I had the day of my life when he won at the York Dante meeting and, on the back of that, he started second favourite in his race yesterday. It wasn't to be for him yesterday, he ran a bit flat and got seriously hampered two out. Despite that, a day to remember, never in my life did I think I, just a normal working man, would be standing in the parade ring with a top trainer and jockey at Epsom on Derby Day.