The Group I Epsom Derby (1m4f) was run overnight with Godolphin’s homebred Frankel colt Adayar out running all the more favoured runners to score a surprise victory.
Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by Adam Kirby, Adayar won a maiden at Nottingham as a two year--old at his second start and had finished second in his only two runs this year in Black Type Derby prep races with the stable concluding he may have been more of a St Leger horse.
Adayar was sent out at 16-1 and powered clear to win by four and a half lengths over 50-1 shot Mojo Star with Godolphin’s more fancied Frankel colt Hurricane Lane in third place.
“All credit goes to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and team Godolphin. I did feel Adayar was more of a Leger horse and he convinced me to run him in the Derby,” said Charlie Appleby.
“I'm delighted for Adam. He gave him a fantastic ride and he was hungry to achieve this. Adam knew this horse better than most as he broke him in. We'll let the dust settle on this but as a team we always thought the St Leger would have been his target.”
The Derby is the first Black Type win for Adayar, whose overall record reads two wins and two placings from five starts.
He is the first winner for Group III winning Dubawi mare Anna Salai, a sibling to stakes-winners Iguazu Falls and Advice as well as to the dam of Group I winner National Defense (IRE), who shuttles to Widden Stud Victoria this spring.
This female family has achieved notable success in Australia for Godolphin producing their Group I colts and sires Epaulette and Helmet.
Adayar is the 70th stakes-winner for Frankel and is his 14th Group I winner. He is also the third stakes-winner from 11 runners for Frankel out of Dubawi mares and the second Group I winner bred this way joining Dream Castle.
