Workforce wins Epsom Derby

English champion jockey Ryan Moore celebrated a rare classic double as Workforce won the Epsom Derby in record time and gave trainer Sir Michael Stoute his fifth race win.

Moore, 26, had won the Epsom Oaks on Friday with Snow Fairy and became the first jockey since Kieren Fallon in 2004 to do the Oaks/Derby double.

Workforce, a 6/1 shot running only his third race, came home seven lengths clear of 100/1 Irish outsider At First Sight, while The Godolphin Operation’s Rewilding was third at 9/2, another 1 ½ lengths behind.

The winner’s time of 2min 31.33sec was nearly a second faster than the previous best course and distance time set by Lammtarra in the 1995 Derby.

Stoute, who trained amongst others the ill-fated Shergar to win the Derby, had voiced fears over the colt’s inexperience but was exultant following the stunning performance.

“He was seriously good today,” purred the 64-year-old Barbados-born Stoute, son of a former police chief of the West Indian island.

“I think he has won one of the great Derbies in terms of the performance.”

Stoute was also full of praise for Moore, three-times champion jockey but who had until Friday failed to land an English classic.

“I’m thrilled for Ryan. He’s gone bang bang and the horse has answered his call. Ryan has a great temperament and after a poor ride in the St Leger for me with the favourite (Conduit two years ago) I wanted him to get a monkey off his back.

“He has done that today.”

Moore is not the most demonstrative of personalities and remained incredibly steady after the race.

“That is a real good horse,” said Moore, whose father is a successful trainer.

“We got a clear run. I was delighted to win the Oaks but this is the most important race for me and to win it for the boss (Stoute) too is even more special.”

Workforce’s owner Saudi Arabian Prince Khalid Abdullah had won the race twice previously, the last time in 1993 with Commander in Chief but this was a special one for him.

“All winners are great to have but the manner in which Workforce won is very special,” said Prince Abdullah, whose best ever horse Dancing Brave was given a much criticised ride by the late Greville Starkey in the 1986 Derby which saw him make up a lot of ground but edged out by ½ a length at the line.

Moore had plenty of work to do as the 12 runner field entered the finishing straight as At First Sight — the pacemaker for favourite Jan Vermeer – had a 10 length advantage and showed no signs of stopping under Jamie Heffernan.

Moore, though, ate bit by bit into the Aidan O’Brien-trained runner’s lead and with just under two furlongs to go he had got upsides him and passed him and from then on it was just a case of how far he would win by. At First Sight stayed on bravely and got a deserved second place while Rewilding, under Frankie Dettori, ran on well after not handling the awkward descent at Tattenham Corner to give the Dubai-based Godolphin Operation reward.

Jan Vermeer, who had replaced St Nicholas Abbey as favourite for the race last week after the latter was withdrawn, stayed on for fourth without ever threatening to give O’Brien a third win in the race.

Another Godolphin runner Alzir was sixth, though, he was fortunate to have three-time Derby winning jockey Fallon on board.

The Irishman — who was having his first ride in the race since 2006 — had got stuck in traffic and then left his family in the car while he took a train and then a taxi to the track arriving barely an hour before the race. —