Sovereign posts 33-1 upset in Irish Derby

Sovereign appeared to be a pace-maker for his superior Aidan O’Brien-trained stablemates Anthony Van Dyck and Broome but instead led from start to finish posting a major upset in the Group 1 Irish Derby on Saturday at The Curragh.

Sovereign was 33-1 overseas and paid $88.60 on the North American tote giving O’Brien a 13th win in the Irish classic. Padraig Beggy, mainly a work rider for O’Brien at his Ballydoyle base in Ireland, was aboard the winner in just his eighth race ride this season. It was the second time Beggy has piloted an O’Brien-trained colt to a classic upset; Wings of Eagles won the 2017 Derby at Epsom as a 40-1 shot.

Favored Anthony Van Dyck ran on decently to finish second but he was nowhere close to catching Sovereign, who won by six lengths in a remarkable performance. Sovereign set sail for the front and traveled at a strong pace from the very start, pursued by the O’Brien-trained Norway, who would wind up third. The pair made a break from the rest of the pack, running many lengths clear through the undulating 1 1/2-mile journey around The Curragh, but as the leaders cornered into the long home-straight it was Sovereign clearly doing the better work. He put away Norway and even a quarter-mile out, long price or no, it already looked obvious no one was catching Sovereign in this race

“He’s just a big galloper," Beggy said. “I got into a good rhythm and he kept going.”

Norway, who finished two lengths in arrears of English Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck, was followed home by Madhmoon, Guaranteed, slow-starting Broome, Il Paradiso, and Rakan. Over good ground the winner clocked a decent 2:31.50.

Sovereign had finished 10th in the Derby at Epsom and won for just the second time in nine starts. He’s by Galileo out of Devoted to You, by Danehill Dancer.