One Aidan O’Brien runner gave this year’s Classic a refreshing look but was a sharp change from the stable’s ‘run everything with a glimmer’ policy
Adam Kirby’s uplifting triumph on Adayar, after he was dumped from his original partner in favour of Frankie Dettori, was one of the best and most memorable Derby stories of recent years. Whether the race itself will come to be seen in similar terms, or even as an above-average renewal of our most famous Classic, remains uncertain, to say the least.
Few could argue that Adayar was the best horse on the day by some way, a point he underlined by attacking the final climb to the winning post with genuine relish. The previously unbeaten Dante winner, Hurricane Lane, was back in third after looking a little uneasy on the track and losing both his front shoes. And if the sight of Mojo Star, a twice-raced maiden, finishing second raised a few questions about the form, Richard Hannon’s colt deserves at least a chance or two to show that his run was no fluke.
Related: Adam Kirby wins Derby on Adayar after losing original big-race ride to Dettori
Leicester 1.00 Bastogne 1.30 Healing Power 2.00 Realist (nap) 2.30 Highest Ground 3.00 Fiftyshadesofred 3.30 Top Secret 4.00 Sir Taweel
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