The Group I Cazoo Epsom Derby (1m4f) was the highlight of UK racing overnight and it went the way of undefeated colt Desert Crown, who won the Blue Riband eased down beating a 150-1 shot.
Trained by Sir Michael Stoute and ridden by Richard Kingscote, Desert Crown won his only start at two last November and returned to score an impressive win in the Group II Dante Stakes at York.
That performance put him firmly in the Derby picture with form judges rating him the best winner of the Dante since Golden Horn, who won in in 2015 and then won the Epsom Derby.
He cruised home to win by two and a half lengths over unheralded Territories colt Hoo Ya Mal with Frankel colt Westover a late closing and most unlucky third after being held up.
“Richard (Kingscote) was very cool and he rode a beautiful race. We were very hopeful after York that Desert Crown might win the Derby,” said Sir Michael Stoute.
“His performance delighted me as he had it won a long way out. He has got such a good mind to go with his ability. Shergar was very special and he hasn't quite reached that stage but he has potential. I think you have to just go home and see how they take it and we will just try and get it right and see how his recovery is (as regards next target).”
Desert Crown was bought out of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book Two by Blandford Bloodstock for 280,000 guineas and is a half-brother to Group III winner Flying Thunder from winning Green Desert mare Desert Berry, a grand-daughter of Juddmonte Farm’s star producer Binary.
He is the sixth Group I winner for Galileo’s Group I winning son Nathaniel, best known as the sire world champion mare Enable and is the 16th Group I winner for Green Desert as a broodmare sire.
Nathaniel stands at Newsells Park at a fee of 15,000 pounds.
