PICTURE PERFECT PERFORMANCE FROM ANTHONY VAN DYCK IN THE EPSOM DERBY

Over 36,000 racing enthusiasts came out to watch the Investec Epsom Derby while across the globe the race was watched with the same enthusiasm.

Aidan O’Brien became the joint winning-most trainer in Investec Derby history after 13/2 shot Anthony Van Dyck provided the master of Ballydoyle with a seventh success in Britain’s premier Classic and richest race, a £1.625 million event. Ridden by Seamie Heffernan, enjoying his first win on his 12th Derby ride, the three-year-old son of Galileo ran on gamely in the closing stages on the far-side rail to deny the Kevin Prendergast-trained Madhmoon (10/1) by a half-length.

Anthony Van Dyck’s stable companions Japan (20/1), Broome (4/1), Sir Dragonet (11/4f), Circus Maximus (10/1) were third, fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.

O’Brien joins Fred Darling, John Porter and Robert Robson as a seven-time winner of the world’s greatest Flat race. The Ballydoyle maestro has won the Investec Derby with Galileo (2001), High Chaparral (2002), Camelot (2012), Ruler Of The World (2013), Australia (2014), Wings Of Eagles (2017) and Anthony Van Dyck (2019).

O’Brien said: “It’s incredible, I am so delighted for everybody. I am privileged to be part of the team with everybody. Seamus gave him a great ride. These races are so competitive and so tough that, until they pass the line you are never sure. Seamus has been placed for so many times. He has been working for us for so long and is such a special fellow. I am so delighted for him. The boss [John Magnier] always says that the Derby is the Holy Grail and it is the backbone of the thoroughbred. This is the ultimate test.”

He said: “Anthony Van Dyck is a very solid horse. He danced every dance last year and did everything we asked of him. He ran a very good trial when winning at Lingfield. The three-year-old son of Galileo knuckled down gamely in the closing stages to repel the challenge of Kevin Prendergast’s Madhmoon (10/1) to win Britain’s premier Classic and richest race by a half-length. His stable companions Japan (20/1), Broome (4/1), Sir Dragonet (11/4f) and Circus Maximus (10/1) were third, fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.

Seamie Heffernan, 46, added a long-awaited first win in the Investec Derby to his 2012 Investec Oaks win on Was and eight Irish Classics. Heffernan is the definition of a team player and his association with Aidan O’Brien, goes back so far that he was on board Anthony Van Dyck’s sire Galileo when he won his ‘prep’ race at Leopardstown 18 years ago, although not in the Derby, the Irish Derby, or any of his other races. He had been second before in the Investec Derby on Fame And Glory in 2009 and At First Sight in 2010, and there was no mistaking what it meant to him.

He said: “I wouldn’t be able to win it if it wasn’t for the firm I am with. I had to take a hold from two down, which probably helped as it’s hard pushing the whole way down the straight. He’s a Galileo, so I knew that he would be with me when I needed him. I was following Ryan Moore, on favourite Sir Dragonet, who finished fifth, which I thought was the big danger, but it was a big ask for him on only his third run. It means a lot as I’m into the last ten years of my riding career. I’ve been around plenty of Derby winners and I rode his father in a trial and won it. I’m always confident riding for Aidan. It doesn’t matter if they are favourite or a big price – he trains them all for the big day. Aidan trains them all for the Derby and some of them handle it and some of them don’t. That’s just the way horse racing is.” Seamie Heffernan has been banned for two days for careless riding, for making a manoeuvre to his left, causing stable companion Circus Maximus to be taken off his intended line.

Madhmoon, trained by Kevin Prendergast in Ireland for owner/breeder Hamdan Al Maktoum, ran a terrific race to just hold on for second at 10/1. His 86-year-old handler commented: “He ran a very good race – we are very happy. I would love to have won, but we are very proud of the horse. It was a very good ride from Chris (Hayes) – he did nothing wrong, but the best horse won on the day.” Chris Hayes explained: I thought he was going to win at one point. He stumbled just after the road crossing by Tattenham Corner and that just lit him up. I was in front probably 50 yards sooner than I wanted, but the winner has won well.”

INVESTEC DERBY LANDMARKS

• The 2019 Investec Derby saw an all Irish-trained first six for the first time in the premier Classic’s 240-year history – with Anthony Van Dyck beating Madhmoon, Japan, Broome, Sir Dragonet and Circus Maximus.
• Aidan O’Brien, the winning trainer, was responsible for five of those six horses, the exception being Madhmoon, who is trained by 86-year-old Kevin Prendergast. O’Brien now becomes the joint most successful trainer in the Investec Derby on seven victories, sharing the title with Fred Darling, John Porter and Robert Robson.
• Anthony Van Dyck is the third horse to win the Investec Derby from stall seven since starting stalls were introduced in the premier Classic in 1967.
• Anthony Van Dyck won the Lingfield Derby Trial on his seasonal return last month and becomes the first winner of that trial to go on and triumph in the Investec Derby since High-Rise in 1998.
• He is the 48th Investec Derby winner to be sired by a past Investec Derby victor. Anthony Van Dyck is by Galileo, winner of the 2001 Investec Derby, who is now responsible for four Investec Derby successes. This one follows on from Australia 2014, Ruler Of The World 2013, and New Approach 2008. Galileo thus joins Montjeu, Sir Peter Teazle, Cyllene, Waxy, and Blandford as the joint most successful sires in Derby history.
• This is the eighth Investec Derby success for a Coolmore partnership, with Anthony Van Dyck owned by Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. Coolmore partnerships already held the record as being the most successful owners in Derby history. The previous success came from Galileo 2001, High Chaparral 2002, Pour Moi 2011, Camelot 2012, Ruler Of The World 2013, Australia 2014, and Wings of Eagles 2017.