Oh This Is Us winning at Epsom
Derby day proved to be a pretty good day all round for all the team here!
Our first runner of the day was SECRET STRENGTH who made the long trip up to Musselburgh worthwhile by winning gamely under Joe Fanning for owners Amo Racing. This Mehmas colt put his experience to good use to get up in the final 110yds.
The wonderful OH THIS IS US made everyone’s weekend by winning his first ever Group race - the Cazoo Diomed Stakes (Group 3), under his favourite race jockey Tom Marquand, for owners Team Wallop. He needs no introduction, and we are running out of superlatives for this absolute warrior. In typical OTIS fashion he gave his absolute all to get up on the line to win by a nose (although looking at the photo finish...was it a tongue?!)
Meanwhile up at Doncaster MAN OF THE NIGHT recorded a first victory since his success on debut as a two year old. He is a horse we have always thought a lot of but has been proving expensive to follow, so it was brilliant to see him show the level of form we know he is capable of. Hopefully this will be the start of more positive things to come from him.
Now for the main event - the Epsom Derby - the greatest race. Despite being a maiden, the lightly raced MOJO STAR has always shown bundles of ability in his work at home and on the track in his few starts to date. The fact that he had only had two runs and no wins made him a rank outsider but everything about his profile suggested he was capable of running a big race and by jove did he. Given a lovely patient ride by David Egan he travelled strongly into the race and with a couple of furlongs left to run he was going as well as any. The eventual winner Adayar got first run and just had an extra turn of foot so scooted clear to win well with Mojo Star coming in second well clear of the third placed horse. What a result for the yard and owners Amo Racing - their first ever runner in the Derby.
We are all looking forward now to a great week racing at Royal Ascot - let's hope the good run continues.