Epsom: Pour Moi gets up to win English Derby in a thriller
Pour Moi came from last to trigger a series of firsts Saturday at Epsom, winning the English Derby by a head over Treasure Beach in a thrilling edition of the race.
Marcus HershJun 04, 2011
Pour Moi came from last to trigger a series of firsts Saturday at Epsom, winning the English Derby by a head over Treasure Beach in a thrilling edition of the race.
A pair of Guineas winners, Roderic O’Connor and Tin Horse, are the two favorites in Sunday’s Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) at Longchamp, but several lesser-known entrants might have an equally good chance.
Dancing Rain, the lone front-runner in a field of 13, held off a late threat from Wonder of Wonders to pull a 20-1 upset in Friday’s English Oaks at Epsom Downs, giving jockey Johnny Murtagh his first Oaks win.
Champion filly Apapane should be solidly favored to win the Group 1, $2.57 million Yasuda Kinen on Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan.
Carlton House, the Epsom Derby favorite, is entered in Saturday's race, but his participation is questionable because of a minor leg injury sustained earlier this week.
A recent victory in the English 1000 Guineas has made Blue Bunting the favorite for the Friday's Group 1 English Oaks, which is run over about 1 1/2 miles on turf and carries a purse of approximately $533,000.
Goldikova has been booked for a return trip to the Queen Anne Stakes on June 14 at Royal Ascot, setting up a greatly anticipated meeting with top miler Canford Cliffs.
Orfevre rallied wide in the final three furlongs to win Sunday’s Group 1 Japanese Derby at Tokyo Racecourse, confirming his status as that nation’s leading 3-year-old a month after winning the Japanese 2000 Guineas.
Orfevre, the winner of the Japanese 2000 Guineas earlier this spring, is expected to be favored in Sunday’s $3.6 million Japanese Derby at Tokyo Racecourse, a race with a European flavor with the presence of jockey Frankie Dettori on top contender Debonair.
Kentucky-based trainer Wesley Ward was represented by 2-year-old winners in England and France in a span of approximately 70 minutes on Thursday.