Regal Reality (5-1) got Betfred Derby day off to a winning start for jockey Ryan Moore with victory in the Group Three Betfred Diomed Stakes at Epsom.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained eight-year-old triumphed in good style in the Group Three opener and may have booked a return trip to Royal Ascot for the Listed Wolferton Stakes – a race he finished fourth in last season – before a potential trip to Glorious Goodwood later in the summer. Under Moore, Regal Reality was sat in the rear of the pace set by Marie's Diamond and Hollie Doyle. He was still in arrears after the turn at Tattenham Corner as the Charlie Appleby-trained 2-1 favourite Highland Avenue made his move under Liverpool FC fan William Buick. The Godolphin five-year-old hit the front with a couple of furlongs remaining of the extended mile contest with Roger Varian's Kolsai (5-2) also moving up to challenge. But as that duo battled on the inside, Moore brought Regal Reality down the outer with a perfectly-timed run. He scored by half-a-length from Highland Avenue with Kolsai a further length back in third.
The winner is owned by Peter Done, the brother of Fred Done – boss of sponsors Warrington-based bookmakers Betfred.
Stoute said: "He's a grand old horse. He wins one of these nice races every year, let's hope he can win at least two this year. We've no plans, we'll just have to ask him where he wants to go. We try to keep him happy at home as he's very strong-minded."
Appleby said of the runner-up: "He's run another solid race - that's what he's like, bless him. Trip-wise we have come down in trip. Will (Buick) said he is always one of those sort of horses who will be bang there in all these top races, but he will appreciate 10 furlongs. We came back (in trip) today obviously thinking we might get away with it, but 10 furlongs is probably his optimum trip, and we will find something for him. Ryan's horse is a decent horse on his day and he's come over top of all of us. It looks like he has had an easier day here that he had galloping this morning! He has got an engine. When he won the Fielden, we were getting a bit excited about him at one stage, but there we are."
Appleby thinks Highland Avenue could be a horse with a worldwide campaign. He said: "He might be a traveller, but we will see."
Fred Done said: “Peter’s at Wembley Stadium today. I can’t be there unfortunately as I’m sponsoring The Derby, but what a great day to be here. He phoned me straight after the race and said ‘Bring the readies home – make sure you keep it in the family’. It’s a fabulous day for everybody. I don’t know how much confidence there was behind him, but Peter said before the race that he thought he had some sort of chance. I thought ‘You are dreaming’, but Peter’s very happy about it.”
Frankie Dettori was out of luck in the Betfred Derby on Arrest but he did secure victory on his last Derby day aboard 6-4 favourite Prosperous Voyage in the Group Three Princess Elizabeth Stakes.
The 52-year-old will retire at the end of the current campaign and after suffering disappointment in his final ride in the Derby, it looked unlikely he would get on the board when Ralph Beckett's filly exited the stalls untidily and left Dettori sat plum last.
However, the only Group One winner in the field showed her class at the business end of the race as the 6-4 favourite set about working her way into contention before knuckling down to see out the one-mile contest in game fashion.
Following on from his Group One double on Friday, it was a third victory of the weekend for Dettori on the Surrey Downs and it was fitting the victory came in the colours of Andrew Rosen, who along with co-owner Marc Chan, have been long-time supporters of the Italian.
