Spiritual wins the opener on Betfred Derby day at Epsom
Spiritual (9-1) ran out an impressive winner of the opener, the Princess Elizabeth Stakes, on Betfred Derby day at Epsom on Saturday afternoon.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained four-year-old, who had not won since scoring at Sandown last July, was given a positive ride by Rab Havlin to score. Stepping back up to an extended mile having run well over seven furlongs at Lingfield on her seasonal return, she crossed over to take the lead early on in the race. And once she hit the front she hardly saw another rival during the 1m½f Group Three contest. Spiritual went into the lead after about a furlong and once she turned Tattenham Corner, the daughter of Invincible Spirit began to move clear of the field and eventually came home four-and-three-quarters-of-a-length ahead of Bright Thunder (14-1) with Sparks Fly (11-1) half-a-length back in third and Royal Dress (16-5) was another three lengths further adrift in fourth.
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John Gosden said: "She loved it in front and got a bit of space around her which gave her plenty of confidence and she relaxed. Leah, who rides her every day, does a great job as she's a handful and she goes off funny little places on her own otherwise she's off.
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"A mile is her trip and that was an easy mile, she ran well in the seven-furlong race at Lingfield. It was lovely to win a Group Three like that in good style and they gave it to her easy up front as they say.
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"She's a good filly, but she sometimes worries about the others. The good thing is she got free there. She's got a Group Three now so we'll go and look at a Group Two somewhere and if she doesn't win she might be placed. There's one in France we've our eye on and we were just hoping to run well today and not go win like that. "
On the runner-up Bright Thunder, trainer and Liverpool FC fan Karl Burke said: "She ran a brilliant race and I'm very happy with her. She loved the ground and probably could have done with it being a bit softer. I think that was probably a career best and we're very happy."
Trainer David Loughnane was also happy with the effort of stable star Sparks Fly, who was third. He is hoping she can finally land a Group race this season.
Loughnane said: "She ran a blinder, she just didn't get out in time. She's handled the ground fine and that's the first time she's gone and got black type with good in the going description, I'm thrilled with the run. It was a real blinder and it opens up a few more options for her now. I've always thought she was a Group Three horse and she's proved it there. I thought she was the best horse in the race, but just got held up and didn't get there in time."
Persica, ridden by Ryan Moore, wins the Betfred Diomed Stakes on Derby Day at the 2025 Betfred Derby Festival at Epsom Downs Racecourse on Saturday, June 7 2025 -Credit:PA
Persica (6-4 favourite) came through late to land the Group Three Betfred Diomed Stakes at Epsom.
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The Richard Hannon-trained four-year-old had won the Group Three Earl Of Sefton Stakes at Sandown in April before finding Group One company and the slight step back down to a mile beyond him when eighth in the Lockinge Stakes last month. But back down to Group Threee level and up over this 1m½f, Persica was back in the winner's enclosure at Epsom where he also was after winning a handicap at this meeting last season.
Under Ryan Moore, Persica was settled towards the rear despite having been prominent in many of his races. But he moved through the field stylishly and came late to collar Ice Max (10-1) and score by three-quarters-of-a-length. Docklands, who may head to Royal Ascot in 10 days' time for the Group One Queen Anne Stakes, was also finishing late and was just a short-head further adrift in third.
Trainer Hannon said: "He's one of those horses who's a pleasure to turn up to the races with and he's a good-looking horse who belongs to the right people and he has a chance in any race.
"Knowing his owners they'll be thinking Japan Cup and Breeders' Cup and something in Australia, but being honest we've always been happy to ply our trade around this level. We might make the occasional jump up on the back of this which I think makes sense, but he has a chance in any race if he gets his ground. Ryan said he struggled going down the hill a bit, but I didn't have the guts to tell him he had been here last year and won!"
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