Workforce demolishes Derby field in course-record time

Workforce demolishes Derby field in course-record time

The highly-regarded Workforce had long been in the classic picture, ever

since he destroyed maiden rivals in his debut at Goodwood last September. The

well-bred bay did not reappear until the May 13 Dante S. (Eng-G2) at York, where

he looked very much like a work in progress. Not only did he hang noticeably on

the ground, but he also managed to dislodge the bit in his mouth. Workforce

stayed on for second while no match for the impressive 3 1/4-length winner, Cape

Blanco (Galileo [Ire]), who will contest Sunday's Prix du Jockey Club (French

Derby) (Fr-G1).

On Saturday, Workforce sported a different bridle with a noseband. The

equipment change, coupled with his natural progression, combined to spark a

massive improvement. Workforce thus overturned a longstanding

Derby dictum: no horse beaten in the Dante had ever rebounded to win

the Blue Riband. His supporters were undeterred by that statistic, and he was

sent off as the co-third choice at 6-1.

"The thing about horses beaten in the Dante not winning here was a rubbish

statistic and that didn't bother me," Stoute said.

"On the racecourse he's always looked brimful of promise, and he won his

first race very easily, but things have been a little bit frustrating this

spring. He's a big fellow and it was cold and he wasn't thriving in it. He had a

dirty scope and it got us behind a tight schedule. The Derby is a tight

schedule.

"I was under no pressure to run him here, and wouldn't have run him unless

Ryan and I thought he had a real chance. The Dante run didn't go as we wanted --

it was unsatisfactory -- but he was seriously good today, wasn't he?"

The market leaders hailed from the rival Coolmore and Godolphin empires.

Aidan O'Brien saddled 9-4 favorite Jan Vermeer (Montjeu [Ire]) and the 6-1 Midas

Touch (Galileo [Ire]), and Mahmood al Zarooni sent out 9-2 second choice Rewilding

(Tiger Hill), who was supplemented to the Derby for

£75,000 on Monday.

The Ballydoyle pacemaker At First Sight (Galileo [Ire]) advanced to take the

early lead from a headstrong Azmeel (Azamour [Ire]). Bullet Train (Sadler's

Wells) and Midas Touch soon took up close tracking positions, while Jan Vermeer

was reserved a little further back, and Workforce bided his time near the rear.

Leaving Tattenham Corner, the 100-1 At First Sight spurted away from the field,

building up an eight-length lead, and threatened to spring an inconceivable

surprise. His better fancied stablemates, Jan Vermeer and Midas Touch, were not making any headway under

pressure.

But Workforce was beginning to sprout wings, and he rapidly emerged as the

only contender who could catch the longshot. Reaching top gear, Workforce

swept past At First Sight and powered clear with supreme authority.

He chopped nearly a full second off Lammtarra's old course mark of 2:32.31

set in 1995, and his seven-length margin of victory ties with Troy (1979) and

Slip Anchor (1985) as the third largest in the race's illustrious history.

Shergar holds the record winning margin of 10 lengths.

"He traveled very smoothly and the gap opened up beautifully," Moore

recapped. "He showed great acceleration and I was actually in front sooner than

I wanted to be.

"From the three-furlong pole, he just accelerated and he really showed a good

turn of foot. For a big horse on fast ground on a track that doesn't suit him,

it was a good performance and I just hope that there is more to come.

"The boss prepared him beautifully and I was expecting him to run well, but I

was just worried about the ground," Moore noted. "He has improved since the

Dante, but is a very laid-back character and just needed that run to wake him

up."

At First Sight kept on for second, a half-length ahead of Rewilding (Tiger Hill) in third.

Another four lengths adrift came Jan Vermeer, who outbattled Midas Touch by a

head for fourth. Al Zir (Medaglia d'Oro) checked in sixth, trailed by

Coordinated Cut (Montjeu [Ire]), Buzzword (Pivotal), Hot Prospect (Motivator),

Azmeel, Ted Spread (Beat Hollow [GB]) and Bullet Train.

"Yes, I'm pleased, absolutely," O'Brien said of his trio. "You've got to be

pleased with that. They were all there and the second horse (At First Sight)

stayed well."

"It was a great run," jockey Frankie Dettori said of Rewilding. "He did not

have the gears to go with the winner, but stayed on well and will be a lovely St

Leger (Eng-G1) horse."

Johnny Murtagh reviewed his trip aboard Jan Vermeer, who lost two shoes

during the race.

"He probably did not handle the track," Murtagh said. "As we turned the

corner, I was upsides Ryan (Moore on Workforce). Then Ryan quickened up and we

ended up going up and down on the spot. My horse never gave me a good feel and I

was not confident at any stage. When Ryan kicked I tried to go with him but was

not able to."

By taking home the winner's share of £771,504

from the £1.25 million prize, Workforce now brandishes a bankroll of

£807,346. The British-bred is out of the unraced Sadler's Wells mare

Soviet Moon, who is a full sister to St Leger hero and multiple highweight Brian Boru (GB) as well as Irish stakes victress Kitty O'Shea.

Workforce's second dam, Eva Luna (Alleged), ranked as England's highweight older

female stayer, and she has also produced French Group 2 queen Moon Search

(Rainbow Quest). Workforce's third dam, Media Luna (GB) (*Star Appeal), was

runner-up in the 1984 Oaks at Epsom, and her descendants include multiple Grade

1-winning millionaire Flute (Seattle Slew).

Teddy Grimthorpe, Prince Khalid's racing manager, reflected on Workforce's

early days.

"As a young horse he was certainly big, but a grand mover," Grimthorpe said.

"He went into training normally, and he's progressed. Some big horses go

backwards (in condition) for a while, but he never did, and at home, when we

broke him in, he was always strengthening.

"When Ryan got off the horse after the Dante S. he said, 'don't be

disappointed, because I'm not,' and that gave us a lot of confidence,"

Grimthorpe added.

"I always talk to Sir Michael before making plans for the horses, but you

don't need to be a clairvoyant to see that the Irish Derby ([Ire-G1] on June 27

at the Curragh) would be a logical race for him."