2021 Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
LocationEpsom Downs Racecourse
Date5 June 2021
Winning horseAdayar
Starting price16/1
JockeyAdam Kirby
TrainerCharlie Appleby
OwnerGodolphin
ConditionsGood to Soft
← 2020
2022 →
Epsom Derby 2021
1-2-3
Royal blue, Red cap Violet, white quartered cap Royal blue
Adayar Mojo Star Hurricane Lane

The 2021 Epsom Derby was the 242nd annual running of the Derby horse race and took place at Epsom Downs Racecourse on 5 June 2021. The race was sponsored for the first time by the online car-dealer Cazoo.[1]

The winner was Godolphin's bay colt Adayar, ridden by Adam Kirby and trained at Newmarket by Charlie Appleby. Godolphin and Appleby were winning the race for the second time, having taken the prize with Masar in 2018.[2]

Build-up

Attendance was limited to 4,000 owing to government restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The race took place after a period of hot, dry weather and the course officials resorted to watering the course to avoid unsuitably firm ground.[3]

The race attracted 19 entrants at the five-day declaration stage, including three previous Group 1 winners, namely Mac Swiney, Van Gogh and Gear Up. The other contenders included Bolshoi Ballet (Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial), Hurricane Lane (Dante Stakes), Youth Sprit (Chester Vase), Third Realm (Lingfield Derby Trial), Lone Eagle (Cocked Hat Stakes), High Definistion (Beresford Stakes), One Ruler (Autumn Stakes), John Leeper (Fairway Stakes) and Mohaafeth (Newmarket Stakes). There were ten entries from Ireland (six trained by Aidan O'Brien), nine from the United Kingdom (three trained by Charlie Appleby and none from continental Europe. The prospective field included five of the top six colts rated in the 8f+ category of the official classification of European two-year-olds for 2020, namely Mac Swiney, High Definition, Van Gogh, One Ruler and Gear Up.[4]

On Wednesday 2 June Aidan O'Brien announced that Bolshoi Ballet would probably be his only runner in the race and that his five other entries, including the second favourite High Definition, would be directed to alternative targets.[5] As O'Brien suggested High Definition, Kyprios, Sir Lamorak, The Mediterranean and Van Gogh were withdrawn from the race on 3 June. The other absentees from the final field of 12 were Lone Eagle and Seattle Sound.[6] On the day of the race Mohaafeth was announced as a non-runner on account of the unsuitable ground conditions.

Race card

No Draw Horse Weight (st–lb) Jockey Trainer Owner
1 1 Adayar 9–0 Adam Kirby Charlie Appleby Godolphin
2 9 Bolshoi Ballet 9–0 Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien (IRE) Tabor, Smith, Magnier
3 6 Gear Up 9–0 Ben Curtis Mark Johnston Teme Valley
4 5 Hurricane Lane 9–0 William Buick Charlie Appleby Godolphin
5 12 John Leeper 9–0 Frankie Dettori Ed Dunlop Anamoine Ltd
6 8 Mac Swiney 9–0 Kevin Manning Jim Bolger (IRE) Jackie Bolger
7 4 Mohaafeth 9–0 Jim Crowley William Haggas Shadwell Estate
8 10 Mojo Star 9–0 David Egan Richard Hannon Jr. Amo Racing Ltd
9 11 One Ruler 9–0 James Doyle Charlie Appleby Godolphin
10 3 Southern Lights 9–0 Declan McDonogh Joseph Patrick O'Brien (IRE) Aquis Racing & Al Mamoura Partnership
11 2 Third Realm 9–0 Andrea Atzeni Roger Varian Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum
12 7 Youth Spirit 9–0 Tom Marquand Andrew Balding Ahmad Al Shaikh

Trainers are based in Great Britain unless indicated.

Full result

Dist * Horse Jockey Trainer SP
1 Adayar Adam Kirby Charlie Appleby 16/1
2 4½ Mojo Star David Egan Richard Hannon Jr. 50/1
3 3¼ Hurricane Lane William Buick Charlie Appleby 6/1
4 3¼ Mac Swiney Kevin Manning Jim Bolger (IRE) 8/1
5 nk Third Realm Andrea Atzeni Roger Varian 14/1
6 3 One Ruler James Doyle Charlie Appleby 17/2
7 2¾ Bolshoi Ballet Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien (IRE) 11/8 fav
8 2 Youth Spirit Tom Marquand Andrew Balding 25/1
9 1¼ John Leeper Frankie Dettori Ed Dunlop 8/1
10 ¾ Gear Up Ben Curtis Mark Johnston 50/1
11 21 Southern Lights Declan McDonogh Joseph Patrick O'Brien (IRE) 33/1

Winning time: 2 min 36.85 sec

* The distances between the horses are shown in lengths or shorter; nse = nose; hd = head.
† Trainers are based in Great Britain unless indicated.

Form analysis

Two-year-old races

Notable runs by the future Derby participants as two-year-olds in 2020

Road to Epsom

Early-season appearances in 2021 and trial races prior to running in the Derby:

Subsequent Group 1 wins

Group 1 / Grade I victories after running in the Derby:

See also

References

  1. ^ Harding, Jonathan (1 April 2021). "Car retailer Cazoo unveiled as headline Derby festival sponsor". Racing Post.
  2. ^ "Adam Kirby wins Derby on Adayar after losing original big-race ride to Dettori". Guardian. 5 June 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  3. ^ Milnes, David (1 June 2021). "Epsom watering continues as site prepares to host 4,000 per day for Classics". Racing Post.
  4. ^ "St Mark's Basilica leads Europe's colts as three fillies share top billing in two-year-old Classifications". The British Horseracing Authority.
  5. ^ Boylan, Mark (2 June 2021). "Bolshoi Ballet to be sole Ballydoyle runner in Derby as Dettori gets Leeper ride". Racing Post.
  6. ^ Stevens, James (3 June 2021). "Confirmed runners and riders for Saturday's Cazoo Derby plus an early tip". Racing Post.
  7. ^ "Gear Up – Race Record & Form". Racing Post. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Mac Swiney – Race Record & Form". Racing Post. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  9. ^ "One Ruler – Race Record & Form". Racing Post. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Youth Spirit – Race Record & Form". Racing Post. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  11. ^ "Adayar – Race Record & Form". Racing Post. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Bolshoi Ballet – Race Record & Form". Racing Post. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Hurricane Lane – Race Record & Form". Racing Post. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  14. ^ "John Leeper – Race Record & Form". Racing Post. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Mohaafeth – Race Record & Form". Racing Post. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  16. ^ "Third Realm – Race Record & Form". Racing Post. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
Categories