Dubai: It may have taken longer than expected — over 25 years to be precise. But Team Godolphin, who have never been known to surrender, finally claimed the victory that they have been in search of for decades – the Group 1 Epsom Derby.
And how!
Masar, a horse that was bred by Godolphin at Darley, and trained in Dubai during the winter, outran a world-class field to secure a historic first victory for the stable in Britain’s most prestigious and richest flat race under glorious sunshine at the famous Epsom Downs Racecourse in Sussex, England.
"Horses are in my blood, horses are my life..."
— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) June 2, 2018
Masar's owner & breeder @HHShkMohd is in dreamland following a first #Derby success in the famous @godolphin silks.#DerbyDay #TheSupremeTest
Results ➡️ https://t.co/7iJOPsvjqx pic.twitter.com/RaaolDyIKu
Beaten into third place in the English 2,000 Guineas (G1) in May, the son of Epsom Derby winning sire, New Approach, lived up to his trainer, Charlie Appleby’s boast, to bring home a one-two for Dubai-owned horses in the great race.
“It’s not easy to win the Derby, but we have won it. This has always been my dream,” said Godolphin founder His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Dubai horse runner-up
Dee Ex Bee, whose name is a play of words with Dubai’s anagram, DxB, finished second 1 1/2 behind in the hands of champion jockey Silvestre De Sousa.
Dee Ex Bee is owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai
.@HHShkMohd claims victory at Epsom, England as @godolphin's royal blue silks clinched the Investec Derby title. #Dubai pic.twitter.com/jGBuAeIwp1
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) June 2, 2018
Hazapour, representing dual Derby winning owner, The Aga Khan, stayed on for third under Frankie Dettori.
Saxon Warrior, the Guineas hero and red-hot favourite, never appeared to recover after stumbling which leaving the starting gates, and could finish only finish fourth for champion jockey Ryan Moore.
“I’m very happy that my daughter [Shaikha Jalila Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum] is here and that the horse came from Dubai,” Shaikh Mohammad said.
“I was jumping up and down in the final furlong [watching the race]. Horses are in my blood, I love horses and I love horse racing.”
Winning rider William Buick was struggling to keep his feet on the ground and said: “This is huge, it’s massive. I’ve come close a couple of times, I think I’ve had seven or eight rides and while I know people have had more without winning I was wondering if my time was ever going to come.
“He’s a very good horse and the team believed in him. Since I wanted to be a jockey this was the day I was dreaming of.”
Appleby elated
Appleby, who was appointed trainer in July, 2013, after 15 years working for Godolphin as a travelling head lad, said: “It’s not sunk in yet.
“I’m delighted for His Highness Shaikh Mohammad. Firstly for giving me the position to be here. I’ve always said when I started this job I wanted to be the first person to have a Derby winner in Godolphin blue.
“I must thank my team at home. Brett Doyle has done a fantastic job with this horse, the whole team has.
“William gave him the perfect ride round there.”
Meanwhile. Simon Crisford, Godolphin’s former Racing Manager turned racehorse trainer, believes he is ready top challenge for bigger prizes with Century Dream, following the four-year-old’s impressive victory in the Group 3 Diomed Stakes, an 1,800 metre contest named after the first ever winner of the Epsom Derby in 1780.
The son of Cape Cross produced a big effort for retained Godolphin rider William Buick to comfortably win by 2 ¼ lengths from Frankie Dettori’s Gabrial with True Valour, the mount of Oisin Murphy, a neck back in third.
