Mystik Dan won a thrilling three- way photo-finish in the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday. In front of 156 000 spectators, the Ken McPeek trained, Brain Hernandez ridden colt secured an impeccable rail hugging trip which proved the difference between winning and losing.
Sierra Leone charged late as did unlucky Japanese invader Forever Young, but both fell narrowly short after much tougher trips. Such are the fine margins that define racing history!
Notable Speed took out the 2,000 Guineas in the UK, transferring his brilliant all -weather form to Newmarket’s vast lawns. Unraced at two and weak physically as an early three-year-old, he’s taken his time to come to hand but had trainer, Charlie Appleby excited on the back of some recent tremendous work outs and a scorching come home sectional of 21,69 seconds at Kempton.
With hot favourite City of Troy getting upset in the stalls then duffing it completely, the way was cleared for Appleby’s chestnut to draw off and beat Richard Hannon’s duo of Rossalion and Haatem, eliciting this glowing review by jockey William Buick.
“I’ve never ridden a horse with his acceleration – it was incredible really,” he said. “He’s got such a great mind, and you can do what you want on him. Every time he ran at Kempton he improved but it was a significant gap he had to cross coming here. He was hard to measure up against a horse like City Of Troy and the rest, but I knew he had something in his armoury that they didn’t – that acceleration. That turn of foot for a miler is incredible, I’ve never sat on a miler that has that sort of pace and speed. He went past them so easily that I could have sat there longer but when I asked him, he just turned on. “
Those attributes are exactly what you want to see in the “perfect thoroughbred” as an owner, trainer and punter!
In domestic action, Pacaya (s/s 95 ++) won a false run Legal Eagle Stakes under Richard Fourie; likewise, Time for Love received a perfect steer from Craig Zackey to stalk and pounce in the Ladies Mile at Kenilworth on Sunday. And, One Stripe scored 90 + in winning the Winter Nursery.
Whilst there was nothing remarkable about those final time figures, Symphony in White clocked a big, adjusted number in the sprint opener. Subject to verification it could be in the mid 90’s which is pretty smart for a juvenile, making her worth following.