Anthony Van Dyck gives jockey Heffernan first English Derby win

Anthony Van Dyck, the Old Flemish master, was anything but a paint-by-numbers guy, but when his namesake won the English Derby on Saturday in England, it was all about the numbers.

Anthony Van Dyck came through along the inside under Seamie Heffernan to beat Madhmoon by a half-length. For Heffernan, it was Derby win No. 1 in attempt No. 12, his participation in so many English classics owing almost entirely to his long association with trainer Aidan O’Brien.

O’Brien had strength in numbers in this Derby, sending out seven of the 13 runners while notching his seventh Derby win, as many as any other trainer ever. O’Brien-trained Derby starters crossed the line first, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth as Japan, Broome, Sir Dragonet, and Circus Maximus followed Anthony Van Dyck home. And horses based in Ireland swept the first six places of England’s biggest race as Madhmoon nearly pulled off an upset for Irish trainer Kevin Prendergast.

Anthony Van Dyck, a 13-2 shot, broke from post 7 in the Derby, run over good-to-firm ground on a hot afternoon over Epsom’s peculiar course. The race starts along a fence to the right, but the horses quickly angle over to negotiate left-handed bends and a long, uphill and undulating section leading to the famed Tattenham Corner.

Heffernan, 46, headed over to the inside rail for the left-handed turn and planted Anthony Van Dyck in eighth position as two O’Brien pacemakers, Sovereign and Norway, went to the front. Telecaster, well supported off his win in the Dante Stakes, tracked the leaders, but no one in the vanguard would have any final say.

Anthony Van Dyck actually took one false step as he leaned into the sharp turn opening onto the long Epsom homestretch, which includes a long downhill portion before a final half-furlong uphill finish. Heffernan came off the fence to go around a flat Line of Duty as Sir Dragonet made his move toward the front. Madhmoon quickened in front of Anthony Van Dyck to go with Sir Dragonet, and Heffernan’s mount briefly was caught out for speed, but with 300 meters to run, Heffernan dove back down to the inside, crossing very close in front of Circus Maximus, and Anthony Van Dyck crushed the final climb to come out on top.

Japan probably was finishing just as well as the winner but came too late on the far outside, missing second by a nose. Broome, also held up near the rear, loomed a danger three-sixteenths out but lacked the needed very late punch while edging Sir Dragonet, the tepid favorite, for fourth. The winning time was 2:33.38, and Anthony Van Dyck paid $16.60 on the North American tote.

Anthony Van Dyck, owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, is by the world’s best stallion, Galileo (who also won the Derby for O’Brien) and out of the Exceed and Excel mare Believe ‘N’ Succeed. Anthony Van Dyck raced seven times as a 2-year-old, ranking just below the very best of his class in Europe despite finishing ninth at odds of 3-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Churchill Downs. The soft ground in that race might not have suited Anthony Van Dyck, who returned at 3 to capture the Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield in his Epsom prep.

Now it is back home to Ireland, where, all being well, Anthony Van Dyck will line up in the Irish Derby on June 21, according to his trainer. O’Brien has won that race a dozen times. He’ll probably win it again this year, too, though with so many of his horses so close to one another Saturday in England, perhaps it will be someone else’s turn next time.