Horse Racing

7 Jun 2010: A Workforce To Be Reckoned With – Epsom Derby Upset

After weeks of favouring Derby entrants trained by Aidan O’Brien, spectators were stunned by the outstanding winning run by Sir Michael Stoute-trained Workforce in the Investec Epsom Derby on Saturday 5th June.
Although Workforce was handled as the second favourite for the 2010 Epsom Derby the pre-race mood was a deep confidence that the winner of the race would hail from the stables of Aidan O’Brien. However, Saturday’s Derby was a race packed with surprises.

Workforce, under the direction of jockey Ryan Moore, was holding his own at about mid-field for the first furlongs of the race, keeping his pace before starting his campaign to catch the leader – unlikely front runner At First Sight. At First Sight, the O’Brien-trained 150-1 outsider of the race, had snatched the lead within the first moments of the race and maintained his position for a remarkably long time. However, the three-year-old was unable to keep the pace he had set so early on in the race – allowing Workforce to pass him on the last furlongs. Moore unleashed his mount’s sprinting powers and the pair crossed the line with an impressive seven lengths ahead of At First Sight and jockey Seamie Heffernan.

While O’Brien, Moore and the connections could be disappointed in At First Sight’s loss of lead, the runner’s amazing performance won’t allow for criticism. Not only did the absolute outsider still manage to race to second place, half a length ahead of Mahmood Al Zarooni’s Rewilding under Frankie Dettori; he also beat his favoured stable mates Jan Vermeer and Midas Touch, who placed fourth and fifth respectively.

Stoute was full of praise not only for Workforce but also for jockey Ryan Moore, who recorded his first Derby win with the coolness and strategy of a seasoned professional. Already his performance is compared to past rides of Derby-king Kieren Fallon, who placed sixth atop Al Zir in this year’s Derby. The excitement is heightened even more by Workforce’s being the first horse to follow a loss at the Dante Stakes with a win at the Epsom Derby, as well as the winning time of 2m 31.33s, which smashed the 1995 record of 2m 32.3s held by Lammtarra. The Epsom Derby was Ryan’s second Classic’s win this weekend, after he rode a winning race on Dunlop-trained Snow Fairy in the Investec Oaks on Friday.

Workforce’s connections are considering the Irish Derby and the Qatar Prix De L’Arc as future opportunities for their celebrated champion.

5 Jun 2010: Fame And Glory Strike Again – O’Brien Celebrates Coronation Cup Win

5 Jun 2010: Snow Fairy Tale At Epsom Downs – Dunlop’s Oaks Success

4 Jun 2010: Epsom’s Top 12 – The Final Derby Line-Up