When Workforce recorded the fastest Derby win in history earlier this month, he became the 230th winner of arguably the most prestigious race on the European calendar – a contest first run on the famous Epsom Downs back in 1780 and one that every owner, breeder, trainer and jockey aspires to win to this day.
The son of King's Best – who had appeared on a racecourse just twice before lining up in the Derby – won the race in devastating fashion, quickening past the long-time leader At First Sight with lightning speed and eventually winning by seven lengths in a time of 2:31.33 – the fastest ever time recorded.
His victory was however, by no means the first in recent years connected to the Darley stallions. In fact, for the last four years, the Derby has either been won by a horse now standing as a Darley stallion or by one sired by a Darley stallion.
In 2007, Authorized (pictured) provided Frankie Dettori with a memorable first win in the race, beating a high-class field by five lengths. Starting the race as favourite, having won the Dante Stakes and with a G1 under his belt already courtesy of his victory in the Racing Post Trophy the previous year, Authorized stalked the early pace but once entering the home straight, demonstrated the superb turn of foot for which he is now famous and the race was over in a matter of strides as he flew past his rivals with consummate ease.
Authorized went on to better his older rivals in the Juddmonte International and retiring to Dalham Hall at the end of the season, attracted an impressive first book of mares, whose offspring – now yearlings – will be on offer at the sales this year.
Twelve months later, it was the turn of New Approach, who won the Derby in thrilling style, weaving his way through the field and demonstrating true grit when outbattling Tartan Bearer in the closing stages to provide HRH Princess Haya with her first winner of the race.
In winning the 2008 Derby, New Approach became the first unbeaten European Champion Juvenile to go on to win the race and rounded off his outstanding racing career with a six-length win in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket, where he broke the 24-year-old ten-furlong track record.
The racing headlines in 2009 were dominated by one horse – Sea The Stars. The son of Cape Cross had not yet been identified as the superstar he was to become by the first Saturday in June – although victory in the 2,000 Guineas had confirmed he was a colt with much more to come. Any doubts about his stamina were soon dispelled as Sea The Stars swept down the straight, needing little encouragement from Mick Kinane to take up the lead and stride clear of his rivals. His name was now firmly etched in the history books, becoming the first since Nashwan to complete the Guineas/ Derby double.
Sea The Stars’ fantastic season was far from over, as he further emulated the great Nashwan when taking the Eclipse (winning in the fastest time recorded in the race for more than 40 years and just over a second outside the course record). He followed up with victories in the Juddmonte International and Irish Champion Stakes – becoming the first horse ever to win these five G1 races in a single season.
He rounded off his career with a spine-tingling win in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – a victory that confirmed him as one of the greatest, if not the greatest racehorses of all time.
The Darley stallions’ run of success in the Derby, plus the ‘other’ Derbies that have evolved into races of the highest class over the years is unparalleled in 2010.
On 8 May, Dubawi's Worthadd landed the Derby Italiano to take his haul of Italian Classics to two, having already won the Italian 2,000 Guineas.
King’s Best, as already mentioned, is sire of outstanding Epsom Derby winner Workforce who was remarkably his second Derby winner of the year following Eishin Flash’s victory in the valuable Japanese Derby on 30 May.
Lope de Vega, by last year’s leading first-season sire Shamardal became, like Worthadd, a dual Classic winner when following in his father’s footsteps, landing the Prix du Jockey Club just three weeks after winning the French 2,000 Guineas.
With four Epsom Derby winners in the past four years associated with the Darley stallions, and four Derby winners to their names this year alone, every Derby day certainly is Darley day.
