That's all folks for another year at Epsom
It seems appropriate given this Derby was run in the memory of Lester Piggott, who sadly left us at the start of the week, that we got a very classy winner of the race this time around. Desert Crown won in a fashion that was every bit as impressive as any Derby winner of recent years.
It was also appropriate that the winner is in the hands of perhaps the finest living trainer, Sir Michael Stoute, who was celebrating his sixth win in this great race. Now we know that Stoute improves his horses as they mature but the word is that Desert Crown is only going to come into his own as a four or five-year-old! It is going to be some treat to follow this brilliant Derby winner’s career no matter how long we get to see him.
Intriguingly, Stoute also has the very exciting older horse Bay Bridge in his yard. As is his want the trainer didn’t give away plans for Desert Crown afterwards today but I wonder if we will see Bay Bridge in the King George at Ascot and Desert Crown in the Irish Derby. The other obvious option for today’s winner would be the Eclipse at Sandown.
Whatever, there’s plenty to look forward to and I hope you’ll join me for the live blog at Royal Ascot. Good luck in the meantime.
Updated
Tokyo Trophy Handicap (5.50pm) result
1 Mr Wagyu (Jason Hart) 12-1
2 Full Authority (Hollie Doyle) 14-1
3 Spirited Guest (J F Egan) 33-1
14 ran
Also: 10-3 Fav Many A Star, 16-1 Alligator Alley 4th
Non Runner: 9
