Serpentine gave trainer Aiden O’Brien his eighth Investec Derby at Epsom on Saturday is a major upset. (Photo credit: Epsom Racecourse).
Serpentine pulled off the upset in Saturday’s Investec Derby at Epsom, giving trainer Aiden O’Brien his eighth win in the Classic race.
The son of Galileo came into the race having broken his maiden just last week at the Curragh going 1 ¼ miles in his third career start. He took the lead early in that race and pulled away to win by nine lengths.
In the Derby the colt, under jockey Emmet McNamara opened up a big lead and headed for home with a huge lead, holding on to win by 5 ½ lengths.
“I think I got a little bit of a freebie!,” exclaimed McNamara after the race. “I had a huge amount of confidence in the horse having spoken to Aidan during the week. He filled me with confidence and said that he is a horse that is going to stay a mile and six furlongs for you well.”
“Emmet gave him a brilliant ride. He judged the pace really well. He was a horse who was going to get every yard of the mile and a half,” O’Brien added.
Serpentine returned $65.00 in the U.S. pool, with Khalifa Sat running second at 70-1. The $1 exacta paid $1,643.90. Amhran Na Bhfiann was third at 70-1.
Investec Derby Replay
Kameko, winner of the 2000 Guineas, was sent off as the 2-1 betting favorite and had to settle for fourth.
There was no such upset in the Investec Oaks as the O’Brien trained Love rolled to a nine-length victory under jockey Ryan Moore.
The victory was the eighth for O’Brien. The filly returned her backers $3.60 to win, with Ennistymon completing a $1 exacta that paid $9.20.
“As you see she is very genuine, sticks her head out and really tries very hard, so we were always hoping that the extra distance was going to improve her, and we were absolutely delighted with the result,” O’Brien said. “Ryan [Moore] gave her a lovely ride.”
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Next up for the talented filly may be the Irish Oaks.
“We will wait and see what is next and the lads will decide that, but obviously the Irish Oaks is a possibility. We will see how she is over the next few days before we make any decisions, but that was always going to be a possibility.”
“The St Leger comes three weeks or a month before the Arc, so would it be too tough for a filly to do that and then go on to the Arc? I don’t know, but I suppose we will see how she trains and what the lads want to do,” O’Brien added.
Investec Oaks Replay
