Hurricane Lane blows past Lone Eagle in final strides of Irish Derby
Hurricane Lane caught a seemingly clear Lone Eagle in the final strides to win his first Group 1 in Saturday’s $1.19 million Irish Derby at the Curragh.
Hurricane Lane, ridden by William Buick, raced in the middle of a field of 11 for the first mile of the race at 1 1/2 miles on the right-handed course. Racing wide, Hurricane Lane ($9 in American pools) closed steadily in early stretch, but trailed Lone Eagle by three lengths with a furlong remaining.
Hurricane Lane’s momentum led to a neck win over 9-2 Lone Eagle, who finished seven lengths clear of 10-1 Wordsworth.
High Definition, the 2-1 favorite, was never a factor and finished 10th, beaten 29 lengths after being eased in the final furlong. High Definition was one of five runners in the field trained by Aidan O’Brien, who has won the Irish Derby a record 14 times.
Wordsworth was O’Brien’s best-placed runner.
Lone Eagle, ridden by Frankie Dettori, won the Cocked Hat Stakes at 1 3/8 miles at Goodwood Racecourse in England on May 21, and was the third choice in the betting in the Irish Derby.
Hurricane Lane and High Definition were first and third in the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York on May 13, the first start of the year for both colts. High Definition was held out of the English Derby at Epsom Racecourse on June 5 in favor of the Irish Derby. Hurricane Lane finished third in the English Derby, losing his front shoes on the heavy turf.
Conditions were better at the Curragh on Saturday, with the turf course listed as good.
Hurricane Lane, owned by Godolphin Racing and trained by Charlie Appleby, is the first British-based winner of the Irish Derby since Jack Hobbs won the race in 2015 for a partnership that included Godolphin and trainer John Gosden.
Appleby said after the Irish Derby that Hurricane Lane has the Group 1 St. Leger Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse in England on Sept. 11 as a long-term goal.
An Irish-bred by Frankel, Hurricane Lane has won 4 of 5 starts.