Cazoo

Desert Crown ran out a brilliant winner of the Cazoo Derby for Sir Michael Stoute and Richard Kingscote.

To the form, then: a basic Timeform rating, yet to be finalised, somewhere in the mid-120s would be an educated guess, not as high as some, but well up to standard for the race. Put aside for a moment the pounds and ounces, the style of Desert Crown's victory in the Derby marks him out as potentially one of the best winners of this great race this century. He said: “I think it’s quite surreal because as a jockey maybe you don’t see yourself among jockeys like that and it’s only through the support of other people that you’re able to do it. I couldn’t fault him, he went to the start and then fireworks went off and he was a lovely ride. The others just weren’t able to take him along – it just shows he has a good deal about him.” He came down the hill really well balanced and changed leads over the road and off he went to top gear.

Andrew Balding was quick to give credit to Hoo Ya Mal's owner after almost pulling off a 150-1 shock in the Cazoo Derby, chasing home impressive winner ...

“I rode him out the back and rode him to finish. “I had to ride him for a bit of luck but he has finished his race off good and he has had a great run – can’t knock him at all. But he was a gallant 10th of the 17 runners. “But he said he was never giving him a feel and from seven furlongs out he knew he was beaten. The winner won well and looked a really good horse, didn’t he?” He is a solid horse that gallops well and he will stay further. His brother only got a mile and quarter, so it is possible. “Star Of India ran OK. The trip is a question mark as well. He travelled well into it but maybe it was a little bit too far. “The obvious thing now is to go for the Irish Derby on a big, galloping track. He hit the line very strong and I felt it was a very promising run.” His jockey Andrea Atzeni said: “He had a great run.

The greatest prize in Flat racing has gone the way of favourite backers as Desert Crown was a convincing winner of the Group 1 Cazoo Derby at Epsom Downs.

It's been a good day.” He jumped great – got in a pitch and travelled great. Oh well!" I had the gap coming across the road and the gap closed faster than I could get into it. Ralph Beckett's Westover will go into many notebooks from the Derby as the third placed runner was unfortunate in running. You couldn't say he is obviously well handicapped off a mark of 94, but you can see him going well all the same, especially if the ground stays decent.” 2 Quickdrawmcgraw 17/2 2 Sixcor 11/2 I’m hoping the Derby day atmosphere will again rekindle his enthusiasm and I’m hopeful." 9/2 Hollie Doyle is on Full Authority for Jane Chapple-Hyam. She remarked to atthraces.com: “The draw hasn’t been kind to me. Thankfully for the jockey there was no lasting damage and he was able to take the rest of his mounts.

Finishing positions · 1 Desert Crown 5-2f · 2 Hoo Ya Mal 150-1 · 3 Westover 25-1 · 4 Masekela · 5 Changingoftheguard · 6 Stone Age · 7 Nahanni ...

More 2022 Cazoo Derby reaction: Desert Crown won a thrilling running of the Cazoo Derby at Epsom. Find out where your selections finished in the big race . . . 2022 Cazoo Derby at Epsom: where your horse finished and who won