Huge upset as outsider Masar wins Epsom Derby

The lure of a chance to see what we thought might be history in the making as the Aidan O'Brien trained Saxon Warrior attempted to add the Epsom Derby to his 2000 Guineas success, on his way to tackling the St Leger and become the first horse to land the triple crown since the great Nijinski back in 1970, plus the offer of a spare seat in a car travelling to the meeting proved impossible to resist last weekend.

However, Saxon Warrior failed spectacularly but the whole experience was well worth all the travelling. After an unbeaten two-year old career, Saxon Warrior was considered to need the race when making his seasonal debut in the English 2000 Guineas where he fairly bolted up and was immediately installed an odds on favourite for the Epsom Classic. Things looked very much on track until the rain came in the Surrey area during the week and changed the ground from good to soft and this problem was compounded when the stall draw was made with the son of Deep Impact landing the number 1 stall which put him at further disadvantage.

With only twelve runners in the race and five of them from Ballydoyle, it was felt that riding tactics were going to play a part and the problem could be overcome. Bookmakers, however were not buying into this and he drifted in price to be odds against on the eve of the race. The official good to soft ground did not suit many of the runners, notably the main English hopes Roaring Lion and Young Rascal, while trainer Dermot Weld was happy enough with the conditions for Hazapour who was an impressive winner of the Derrinstown Stud Derby trial at Leopardstown.

 

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