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epsom derby festival 2012/

Camelot is the Derby King
02/06/12

1 Camelot 8/13 Fav
2 Main Sequence 9/1
3 Astrology 13/2
9 ran Distances: 5l, shd, 6l
TIME 2m 33.90s (fast by 1.10s)

Camelot, trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by his son Joseph, won the Investec Derby at Epsom in terrific style.

Camelot
© Caroline Norris

The young jockey, completing a big-race double after the Coronation Cup victory of St Nicholas Abbey, sat in rear as his stable companion Astrology took them along.

He delivered a telling challenge in the straight and though it took a while for Camelot to hit the front, once he did the race was over and he stretched clear to win with complete authority.

The David Lanigan-trained Main Sequence narrowly denied O'Brien a one-two, getting up on the line to edge out Astrology for second.

Astrology
© Caroline Norris

It was a third win in the Epsom Classic for the Ballydoyle trainer and his first since High Chaparral took Flat racing's greatest prize a decade ago, and he has now saddled the winner of all four Classics run in Britain this season.

O'Brien junior said: "I was a bit worried as he didn't come down the hill at all. He didn't handle the track that well, so he did well to win. He's a very special horse and I'm just very fortunate to be on his back. I owe a big thanks to the owners and everyone in the yard."

Anne-Marie O'Brien, wife of the trainer and Joseph's mother, said: "I can't believe it, it's amazing. I met Lester Piggott last weekend and he said to tell Joseph not to be in any hurry (in the race). I'm really thrilled, it's incredible."

The winning trainer added: "You can't even dream of days like this. I was always happy, I know his (Joseph's) body language by now and he looked confident. No-one can describe the feeling, things like this don't happen."

Camelot could now bid to become the first horse since Nijinsky in 1970 to land the Triple Crown with victory in the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster in September, and O'Brien went on: "We'll give it a lot of thought and the boys will make a decision. The Triple Crown would be incredible."

Part-owner Derrick Smith said: "This is the one everyone wants in racing. To win the Epsom Derby is a dream come true. What a horse, what a ride. You could see from the three pole it was all over. It (the Triple Crown) must be (on the agenda), mustn't it?"

Coolmore supremo John Magnier added: "We are fortunate to have anything to do with him, and it's particularly important in the year his father (Montjeu) died. We are going to have to take it race by race and give it lots of thought.

"Wouldn't anybody (be tempted by the Triple Crown)? These things get to mean more as you get older. If you had asked me 30 years ago I might have looked the other way, but we will have to see what Derrick (Smith) and Michael (Tabor) say about it."

Investec Derby (Group 1)
Going: Good to Firm

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	Camelot A P O'Brien	J P O'Brien 9st 0lbs	8 - 13 Winner
2	Main Sequence D R Lanigan	T E Durcan 9st 0lbs	9 - 1 5 lengths
3	Astrology A P O'Brien	R L Moore 9st 0lbs	13 - 2 Short Head
4	Thought Worthy J H M Gosden	William Buick 9st 0lbs	16 - 1 6 lengths
5	Mickdaam R A Fahey	P Hanagan 9st 0lbs	25 - 1 2 lengths
6	Bonfire A M Balding	J Fortune 9st 0lbs	9 - 2 1/2 length
7	Minimise Risk A M Balding	J P Spencer 9st 0lbs	66 - 1 1/2 length
8	Rugged Cross H Candy	Dane O'Neill 9st 0lbs	33 - 1 2 lengths
9	Cavaleiro M P Tregoning	Hayley Turner 9st 0lbs	25 - 1 3 1/2 lengths

LANIGAN THRILLED WITH MAIN SEQUENCE

Main Sequence, who had won his four previous starts including the Lingfield Derby Trial, ran a brilliant race in defeat behind Camelot to finish second in the Investec Derby, a short-head in front of the winner’s stablemate Astrology.

David Lanigan, who was saddling his first Investec Derby runner, said: “I am very happy with Main Sequence - he ran a great race. He was our first Investec Derby runner, so it’s great that he has run so well.

“He got a bit edgy prior to the race, but it is a very long build-up here and once he was at the start he was fine. He did everything right in the race and was second to a very good horse.

“We will sit down with the owners and decide where we go next with him.”

Thought Worthy
© Racehorse Photos

Thought Worthy tracked the pace under William Buick, but could never land a telling blow and finished fourth.

Trainer John Gosden said: “I am delighted with Thought Worthy and I was very impressed with the winner.

“I thought Main Sequence would finish second prior to the race because he is a very nice horse. I thought when he won at Lingfield he showed a kick, that he also showed today, and Astrology was impressive in his trial.

“The race went how I expected it to and we have finished fourth so I am very happy. He has run his heart out like his brother (Lucarno) did and we will give him a break and freshen him up before going on to the Great Voltigeur Stakes and the St Leger.”

Buick added: “I am very happy with Thought Worthy. He has run a very honest race and will be a lovely St Leger horse.”

Ted Durcan, jockey of the five-length second Main Sequence, said: “No excuses. I got a good smooth run around with the winner (Camelot) behind me all the way. I got first run on him but I ran into a better horse on the day.”

Ryan Moore, on board third Astrology, said: “My horse ran a very good race but just got a little bit tired in the last hundred yards - but he saw the trip out well enough.”

Paul Hanagan, on board fifth Mickdaam, said: “No excuses he ran well.”

Jimmy Fortune, partner of sixth Bonfire, said: He travelled well enough early but just didn’t really handle Tattenham corner. In fact he didn’t handle the track at all, he hated it.”

Jamie Spencer, jockey of Minimise Risk, said: “I am happy enough with that.”

Dane O’Neill, rider of eighth Rugged Cross, said: “He just didn’t stay.”

Hayley Turner, on board Cavaleiro, said: “He just wasn’t good enough.”