2022 Cazoo Derby
Run on Saturday, 4 June, 2022 as the Cazoo Derby (In Memory Of Lester Piggott) over the Derby Course of one mile and a half and 6 yards, Epsom Downs. For three-year-olds; entire colts 9st 2lb, fillies 8st 13lb. 94 entries. Value to winner £909,628.40
1st DESERT CROWN Richard Kingscote 5-2 Fav
2nd HOO YA MAL David Probert 150-1 2½ lengths
3rd WESTOVER Rob Hornby 25-1 Head
Also ran: 4th Maskela (Andrea Atzeni) 66-1; Changingoftheguard (Wayne Lordan) 9-1; Stone Age (Ryan Moore) 7-2; Nahanni (Adam Kirby) 25-1; Nations Pride (William Buick) 15-2; West Wind Blows (Jack Mitchell) 40-1; El Habeeb (J. F. Egan) 250-1; Grand Alliance (Daniel Tudhope) 40-1; Piz Badile (Frankie Dettori) 9-1; Star Of India (Seamie Heffernan) 16-1; Glory Daze (Ronan Whelan) 66-1; Sony Liston (Tom Marquand) 100-1; Royal Patronage (Jason Hart) 28-1 (tailed off); Walk Of Stars (James Doyle) 11-1 (tailed off, last).
This year the weights for the Derby were raised 2lb to 9st 2lb, the first change since 1884.
*** For an easier read Mobiles view Landscape.
In the absence of Her Majesty, the Princess Royal headed the Royal Party and was greeted by the 40 jockeys who had previously ridden for the Queen.
Desert Crown, an impressive winner of the Dante Stakes, headed the Derby betting at 5-2. Stone Age was a strong alternative at 7-2, as the pick of Aiden O’Brien’s three, having won the Leopardstown Derby Trial Stakes. While Godolphin’s Nations Pride, supplemented for £75,000 after winning the Newmarket Stakes by 7 lengths from Hoo Ya Mal drifted from 6’s to 15-2.
With Desert Crown the last to be loaded, the 17 runners got underway on good going. After 2 furlongs, West Wind Blows and Changingoftheguard took them along from Glory Daze, Star of India and Stone Age. At the top of the hill the front two maintained their lead while Desert Crown was nicely placed on the outside of the pack. There was little change rounding Tattenham Corner until passing the 3-pole where Changingoftheguard gave way to HooYa Mal, while Desert Crown cruised up on the outside, Richard Kingscote sending him clear two furlongs out. Meantime, Rob Hornby on Westover, suddenly blocked by a closing wall of horses, had to pull out and round to make his challenge. Desert Crown by now 3 to 4 lengths clear and easing down with plenty in the locker, went on to win by 2½ lengths. Hoo Ya Mal, a 150-1 shot, held on to second by a head from the fast finishing Westover.
17 ran. Time 2m 36.38 sec
- The winner was bred by Strawberry Fields Stud, owned by Saeed Suhail and trained by Sir Michael Stoute, his sixth Derby winner from Newmarket, Suffolk.
The winner, DESERT CROWN, had won 3 races from 3 starts: EBF Maiden Stakes, Nottingham, Dubai Dante Stakes, York, Cazoo Derby, Epsom.
The sire, NATHANIEL b.c. 2008 by GALILEO ex MAGNIFICENT STYLE, won 4 races (from 11 starts): St Helens Maiden Stakes, Haydock, King Edward VII Stakes, Ascot, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, beating WORKFORCE, (2011), Coral-Eclipse Stakes, Sandown. Sire of ENABLE, winner Investec Oaks, Darley Irish Oaks, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (twice), Longines Breeders’Cup Turf , Churchill Downs.
The dam, DESERT BERRY b.f. 2009 by GREEN DESERT, won 1 race (from 3 starts): Forest Row Maiden Stakes, Lingfield (AW). She has bred 5 winners from 5 runners incl. FLYING THUNDER b.g. 2015 by ARCHIPENKO, won Premier Cup, Sha Tin.
Desert Crown and Richard Kingscote return in Triumph
For more Racing History see Michael’s Books for Sale.