Race Review 2009
There had not been a smaller field since Nijinsky won in 1970, but it was a quality line-up nevertheless, without any complete no-hopers, and it looked relatively open, too, as the betting confirmed, with bookmakers going 7-2 the field in the morning and having five runners trading at single-figure odds. Itīs make-up was quite extraordinary, with none of the four home-trained runners trading at less than 20-1 and the remainder of the runners all hailing from Ireland - six from the Aidan OīBrien stable, and all six of them credible contenders in their own right.
Irish-trained runners took the first five places, with the impressive 2,000 Guineas winner SEA THE STARS confirming himself a colt of the very highest class by completing a double last achieved by the great Nashwan 20 years previously and leading home four OīBrien-trained runners, who passed the post almost in line abreast.
The Guineas form was very strongly represented, with Sea The Stars joined by third-placed Gan Amhras and fourth-placed Rip Van Winkle. So, too, were most of the main trials, with Derrinstown winner Fame And Glory treading the route taken in successive years by High Chaparral, Galileo and Sinndar; his stablemates Golden Sword and Masterofthehorse following the Chester Vase path last taken successfully by Quest For Fame; Black Bear Island, another from the same stable, coming on here from the Dante, as had North Light, Motivator and Authorized; and Age Of Aquarius, yet another from Ballydoyle, representing the Lingfield Trial which last produced a Derby winner in High-Rise in 1998. The Racing Post Trophy, which has been such a strong guide in recent years, was also represented here by its impressive winner Crowded House, who had been such a disappointment on his reappearance in the Dante.
Sea The Stars had his stamina to prove, like all Guineas winners, but while his sire Cape Cross gave cause for some concern, the dam Urban Sea had won the Arc and had already produced a Derby winner in Galileo, so he was a far more likely stayer than most of the eight who had tried and failed since Nashwan.
In the event, Sea The Starsīs stamina was not fully tested, for the OīBrien front-runners Golden Sword and Age Of Aquarius looked to go very steady for the first two furlongs and then dictated a pace that apeared to be designed to aid suspect stayer Rip Van Winkle rather than Fame And Glory, whose best chance of beating the eventual winner was for stamina rather than for speed yet surprisingly took up a position behind him.
John Oxxīs colt, though thoroughly composed and relaxed throughout the preliminaries while plenty of others were sweating up, was quite keen until the pace picked up but then travelled like a dream, disputing third with Kite Wood behind the two clear leaders. Three out he was clearly going best, and his main rivals were all hard at work. As Age Of Aquarius cracked he was sent in pursuit of Golden Sword, and having taken the leaderīs measure a furlong from home, he was not at all hard pressed, receiving just three cracks of the whip to keep his mind on the job and make sure.
The winning margin was not extravagant, but it was a performance of sheer class and one that places him among the sportīs true greats. It also promised further major prizes before the year is out, with the Irish Derby the likely next target and the Eclipse an alternative if it came up unsuitably soft at the Curragh. Races like the International at York, the Irish Champion and the Arc will all come into consideration later, but the King George was not mentioned. A bid for the triple crown, not even attempted since Nijinsky achieved it in 1970 was not entirely ruled out, but it seems highly unlikely.
Fame And Glory had beaten the same horses both times in the Ballysax and the Derrinstown, and though he was impressive in the latter race, there remained a doubt about the strength of the form. Well backed on course, he acquitted himself extremely well in second, but he could not quicken with Sea The Stars and never looked as if he was going to beat him. A more searching test might have suited him better, but one suspects the winner would always have his measure over this distance or shorter provided the ground was suitable. That said, he is obviously a worthy contender for all the big middle-distance prizes.
So, too, are Masterofthehorse, Rip Van Winkle and Golden Sword, who finished pretty much upsides him. Masterofthehorse had only a couple behind him into the straight, but he enjoyed a trouble-free run through from the back of the field and challenged for second between his stablemates inside the final furlong. This was a cracking effort from a colt who was said to have thrived since Chester and will merit plenty of respect wherever we see him next.
Rip Van Winkle, among those who sweated up, has a lot of speed on his damīs side and was held up to get the trip. He stayed much better than many expected, albeit in a Derby run in slowish time, and he might have been second but for his inclination to edge left down the camber, even once switched right to the outside. Although he has been beaten in all three attempts at Group 1 level, one can see why connections, and Murtagh in particular, rate him so highly. There were no plans forthcoming for any of the OīBrien colts, but one could well see him dropping back two furlongs for races like the Eclipse.
Golden Sword on the other hand looks a stayer and a galloper. He saw the race out far more strongly than Age Of Aquarius, whohad kept him company most fo the way, and it was only well inside the final furlong that he lost second. He looks an obvious St Leger type.
Crowded House, who had reportedly scoped badly after York and whose participation was in doubt until the start of the week, did best of the home team in sixth, but he was fully six lengths behind the fifth, having been held up at the back of the field and still being virtually last into the straight. Although he made some headway on the outside he never lookedhappy and was edging left when he ran up the back of Kite Wood two out. It was a step in the right direction, but it bears repeating that the Racing Post form is not as strong as it looked at the time.
Debussy, only third in the Chester Vase, was outclassed but by no means disgraced, but Kite Wood, who kept Sea The Stars company for so long, was struggling as soon as they reached the straight and dropped out right away. This was disappointing.
Black Bear Island made only limited headwayfrom the back of the field and was going nowhere in the last two furlongs. He could have done with a stronger pace.
Gan Amhras, however, was the biggest disappointment of the race. His pedigree promised improvement over the extra half-mile, but hewas keen through the early stages and, having been anchored towards the rear, was no threat at all in the straight.
Montaff, the outsider of the party, was in touch to the straight, but dropped away quickly.
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Mick Kinane wins the 2009 Derby with Sea The Stars