| Hala Bek? Remember him? |
The Epsom Derby - A race that always provides plenty of talking points; before, during and after the event.
In the past couple of days we have already had the will he/won't he run saga of the Queens horse and hot ante-post favourite Carlton House as well as the frankly ridiculous story of Kieren Fallon possibly being stopped from riding in the race after Native Khan's owner went to the high court to prevent him riding Recital!
The race itself often produces numerous Hard Luck Stories and unlucky defeats. Below are 3 recent cases of horses that didn't win the Epsom Derby but maybe should have......
HALA BEK - 2006 Derby - 4th beaten 1/2 a length
Remember him anyone? Talk about throwing away the chance of a lifetime! Comes to throw down a winning challenge in the final furlong then....BOOM!....the Halling colt veers dramatically to the right and decides "I don't really fancy winning this thing". It's hard to argue that he wouldn't have won that day if he had run straight but the facts are he didn't run straight and ultimately it cost him. The winner that day, Sir Percy, is often described as one of the worst winners of the Derby in recent years but was the race itself all that bad? I'm not so sure. We musn't forget that amongst the beaten horses were Dylan Thomas (multiple Group 1 winner including the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes), Sixties Icon (St Leger winner), Papal Bull (Royal Ascot winner and Group 1 placed) and Septimus (Irish St Leger winner and Yorkshire & Doncaster Cup winner). Not exactly a who's who of racing greats but nonetheless all class animals in their own right. But what of Hala Bek? Well things didn't quite go to plan for him. Due to injury he didn't run after his Derby effort for another 2 years, in which time he was purchased by Godolphin, and on his return he romped to a cosy 7 length victory of a conditions race at Nottingham....then he was retired! Could have been oh so different had he not jinked his way to defeat in the 2006 Derby.......
YEATS - 2004 Derby - Hot ante-post favourite but didn't run
He was all the rage for the 2004 Derby since his maiden victory at the Curragh in 2003. Favourite throughout the winter of 2003/04 he then came back with 2 smooth Group wins at Leopardstown, including the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial. Then in the week leading up to the race.......BOOM!....he is pulled from the race, with muscle problems sighted as the reason for his non participation. Was this one of the greatest blessings in disguise in the history of the sport? If he had run (and potentially won) in the 2004 Derby would he have ever lined up in the Ascot Gold Cup? Would we have ever been witness to the only 4 times winner of the Gold Cup? All speculation of course but we must consider the fact that had he run in his Derby we would never have had the joy of watching the greatest stayer to have graced the turf. Not winning the Derby isn't always that bad is it.........
TARTAN BEARER - 2008 Derby - 2nd beaten 1/2 a length
Beaten by the top class New Approach in a ding-dong battle to the line it always niggles with me that his slow start possibly cost him glory that day. Ryan Moore had to cajole him along in the early stages of the 2008 Derby and there is a very big chance that just blunted his finishing kick enough to cost him the biggest prize of all. The Stoute trained horse then went on to look for compensation in the Irish Derby where this time he was denied the prize by another runner veering into him in the final furlong. The horse only had 3 more career starts and despite winning the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes and finishing runner-up in the Prince of Wales's Stakes and the King George one can't help but feel he never really fulfilled his promise.......
Are there any other hard luck stories that spring to mind?
Let me know by leaving a comment below.
Best of luck for any bets you may place tomorrow and if there are any hard luck stories then let's hope you are on the right side of them!
Ben (NTF)
