The 2015 Epsom Derby (known as the Investec Derby for sponsorship reasons) was the 236th annual running of the Derby horse race and took place at Epsom Downs Racecourse on 6 June 2015. The race was won by the favourite, Golden Horn, a British-bred bay colt, owned by Anthony Oppenheimer, trained in Newmarket, Suffolk by John Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori. The colt's win was the first for his owner, the second for Dettori (after Authorized in 2007) and the second for Gosden (after Benny the Dip in 1997).

2015 Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
Golden Horn at the 2015 Epsom Derby
LocationEpsom Downs Racecourse
Date6 June 2015
Winning horseGolden Horn
Starting price13–8 Fav
JockeyFrankie Dettori
TrainerJohn Gosden
OwnerAnthony Oppenheimer
ConditionsGood to firm
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Epsom Derby 2015
1-2-3
Black and white (halved), sleeves reversed, red cap Royal blue Dark blue, large yellow spots
Golden Horn Jack Hobbs Storm The Stars

Race synopsis

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Entries and race build-up

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The initial entry for the 2015 Epsom Derby, announced in December 2013, consisted of 409 yearlings. The number of entries was three more than for the 2014 race and included 71 from Godolphin Racing and 54 from the partners of the Coolmore Stud. Sheikh Fahad Al Thani's Qatar Racing organization entered 15 yearlings while Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani was responsible for 12 entries.[1] Amongst the Coolmore entries was a colt who had been purchased for a record public auction price of 3.6 million guineas in October 2013, and other owners with significant numbers of entries included Aga Khan IV with 51 yearlings and Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's 47 entries.[2] The number of potential runners was reduced to 102 at the first scratching date in March 2015, with John F Kennedy heading the betting market at odds of 6 to 1. The Coolmore stable was left with 21 possible runners, including John F Kennedy and the record auction colt, now named Sir Isaac Newton.[3] A further 12 horses were added at the second entry stage in April 2015, including Gleneagles and Elm Park.[4]

 
The field rounds Tattenham Corner with Hans Holbein leading.

The field began to take its final shape on 22 May when sixteen horses were left entered at the final forfeit stage. Amongst those remaining in the race were Gleneagles, who had won the 2000 Guineas since being entered; Hans Holbein, the winner of the Chester Vase and Jack Hobbs, runner-up in the Dante Stakes. The betting market was headed by Golden Horn, winner of the Feilden Stakes and the Dante Stakes, but who was not yet entered in the Derby. Golden Horn's owner, Anthony Oppenheimer, had indicated that he would enter the horse at the supplementary entry stage.[5]

Final confirmations for the race took place on Monday 1 June leaving a potential field of fifteen runners. Gleneagles, Great Glen and Prince Gagarin were withdrawn by Aidan O'Brien and Golden Horn was supplemented as expected at a cost of £75,000. Success Days, winner of the Ballysax Stakes and Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial, was also supplemented for the race. The filly Found and Sumbal had been considered by their connections for supplementary entries but were not entered. Golden Horn was the favourite in the betting market at this point at odds of 7–4, followed by Zawraq at 5–1, Jack Hobbs at 7–1 and Elm Park at 9–1. The other eleven runners were all listed at 10–1 or greater.[6][7] On the Tuesday before the race Zawraq returned from a gallop with a minor leg injury and his participation in the Derby was put in doubt. Zawraq's odds moved out to 7–1 while Giovanni Canaletto's price moved in to 8–1 after Ryan Moore was announced the horse's jockey for the race.[8] On Thursday Zawraq was found to be lame again and was withdraw at the final declaration stage that morning along with Best Of Times and Rocky Rider, leaving a final declared field of twelve runners for the 2015 race.[9]

On the day of the race, Saturday 6 June, Epsom's clerk of the course, Andrew Cooper, moved the Going description to "good, good to firm in places". The going for Friday's racing at Epsom had been "good" but dry weather that afternoon and overnight had made parts of the course good to firm. Jack Hobbs' participation in the race awaited a decision from trainer John Gosden, dependent on his view of whether the going would suit Jack Hobbs.[10][11] After the first race of the afternoon the going description was changed to "good to firm",[12] despite which Jack Hobbs was allowed to take his chance in the race.[13]

In February 2015 Epsom's owners, Jockey Club Racecourses, announced that the race's start time would be 4.30pm, 30 minutes later than the 2014 running.[14]

Race

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The race began with Elm Park disputing the lead with Hans Holbein over the first half mile with Storm The Stars and Epicuris leading the chasing group, and most of the leading contenders being settled in behind. Andrea Atzeni eventually managed to restrain Elm Park, allowing Hans Holbein to establish a clear lead. At the turn into the straight Hans Holbein led by several lengths from Elm Park, followed by Epicuris, Storm The Stars, Jack Hobbs and Giovanni Canaletto. The leaders bunched approaching the final quarter mile with Hans Holbein challenged by Epicuris as Storm The Stars and Jack Hobbs challenged in the centre of the track and Golden Horn made rapid progress from the rear on the outside. Jack Hobbs took the lead but was quickly overtaken by his stablemate Golden Horn approaching the final furlong. In the closing stages Golden Horn drew away to win by three and a half lengths from Jack Hobbs, who was in turn four and a half lengths clear of Storm The Stars in third. Giovanni Canaletto took fourth ahead of Epicuris, Kilimanjaro and Hans Holbein.[15][16][17] The winning time of 2:32.32 was the third fastest in the history of the race. The last place finisher Success Days sustained a hairline fracture in his left foot while running in the Derby and was treated on the course.[18]

Race card

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No Horse Weight (stlb) Jockey Trainer Owner
1 Carbon Dating (IRE) 9–0 Ronan Whelan John Patrick Shanahan (IRE) Thistle Bloodstock Ltd
2 Elm Park 9–0 Andrea Atzeni Andrew Balding Qatar Racing Ltd
3 Epicuris 9–0 Thierry Thulliez Criquette Head-Maarek (FRA) Khalid Abdullah
4 Giovanni Canaletto (IRE) 9–0 Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien (IRE) Tabor / Smith / Magnier
5 Golden Horn 9–0 Frankie Dettori John Gosden Anthony Oppenheimer
6 Hans Holbein 9–0 Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien (IRE) Tabor / Smith / Magnier / Ah Khin
7 Jack Hobbs 9–0 William Buick John Gosden Godolphin & partners
8 Kilimanjaro (IRE) 9–0 Joseph O'Brien Aidan O'Brien (IRE) Tabor / Smith / Magnier
9 Moheet (IRE) 9–0 Pat Dobbs Richard Hannon Jr. Al Shaqab Racing
10 Rogue Runner (GER) 9–0 Oisin Murphy Andreas Wohler (GER) Qatar Racing Ltd
11 Storm The Stars (USA) 9–0 Pat Cosgrave William Haggas Sheikh Juma Dalmook al Maktoum
12 Success Days (IRE) 9–0 Shane Foley Ken Condon (IRE) Robert Ng

Trainers are based in Great Britain unless indicated.

Full result

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Dist * Horse Jockey Trainer SP
1 Golden Horn Frankie Dettori John Gosden 13/8
2 Jack Hobbs William Buick John Gosden 4/1
3 Storm The Stars Pat Cosgrave William Haggas 16/1
4 2 Giovanni Canaletto Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien (IRE) 6/1
5 Epicuris Thierry Thulliez Criquette Head-Maarek (FRA) 20/1
6 Kilimanjaro Joseph O'Brien Aidan O'Brien (IRE) 12/1
7 Hans Holbein Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien (IRE) 14/1
8 nse Carbon Dating Ronan Whelan John Patrick Shanahan (IRE) 150/1
9 5 Rogue Runner Oisin Murphy Andreas Wohler (GER) 50/1
10 ½ Moheet Pat Dobbs Richard Hannon Jr. 25/1
11 shd Elm Park Andrea Atzeni Andrew Balding 9/1
12 8 Success Days Shane Foley Ken Condon (IRE) 12/1

* The distances between the horses are shown in lengths or shorter; hd = head.
† Trainers are based in Great Britain unless indicated.

Winner details

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Further details of the winner:[19]

Form analysis

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Two-year-old races

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Notable runs by the future Derby participants as two-year-olds in 2014

Road to Epsom

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Early-season appearances in 2015 and trial races prior to running in the Derby:

Subsequent Group 1 wins

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Group 1 / Grade I victories after running in the Derby:

Subsequent breeding careers

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Leading progeny of participants in the 2015 Epsom Derby.[31][32][33]

Golden Horn (1st) - West End Girl (1st Sweet Solera Stakes 2019)
Jack Hobbs (2nd) - Offspring yet to race
Storm The Stars (3rd) - Offspring yet to race
Elm Park (11th) - Offspring yet to race
Success Days (12th) - Standing in Ireland

References

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  1. ^ "409 yearlings entered for 2015 Investec Derby". britishchampionsseries.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  2. ^ "409 yearlings entered for 2015 Epsom Derby". eclipsemagazine.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  3. ^ "John F Kennedy heads 102 going forward for the Epsom Derby". Thoroughbred News. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  4. ^ Riley, Stuart. "Gleneagles and Elm Park added to the Derby field". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  5. ^ Eacott, Paul. "Dettori set to ride Golden Horn in the Derby". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  6. ^ "Gleneagles: Aidan O'Brien charge to miss Derby for Royal Ascot". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  7. ^ Wood, Greg. "Aidan O'Brien's 2,000 Guineas winner Gleneagles withdrawn from Derby". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  8. ^ Wood, Greg. "Zawraq a Derby doubt while Ryan Moore will ride Giovanni Canaletto". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  9. ^ Cook, Chris (4 June 2015). "Third-favourite Zawraq is pulled out of the Derby after going lame". The Guardian.
  10. ^ "John Gosden yet to make Jack Hobbs Derby decision". RTÉ Sport. 6 June 2015. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  11. ^ Lee Mottershead. "Jack Hobbs likely to run at Epsom after workout". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015.
  12. ^ Baxter, David. "Epsom going quickens". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 26 July 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  13. ^ "Superb Derby second For Jack Hobbs". Godolphin. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  14. ^ Matharu, Hardeep (17 February 2015). "Derby start time to be pushed back to boost television ratings". Sutton and Croydon Guardian. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  15. ^ Keogh, Frank. "Frankie Dettori wins Epsom Derby on favourite Golden Horn". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  16. ^ Cook, Chris. "Frankie Dettori wins his second Derby at Epsom on Golden Horn". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  17. ^ "4:30pm Epsom". Racing Post. 6 June 2015.
  18. ^ Jennings, David (10 June 2015). "Success Days to miss Irish Derby with fracture". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 12 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  19. ^ a b "Golden Horn". Racing Post. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  20. ^ a b "Elm Park". Racing Post. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  21. ^ a b "Epicuris". Racing Post. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  22. ^ a b "Success Days". Racing Post. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  23. ^ "Carbon Dating". Racing Post. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  24. ^ "Giovanni Canaletto". Racing Post. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  25. ^ "Hans Holbein". Racing Post. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  26. ^ "Jack Hobbs". Racing Post. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  27. ^ "Kilimanjaro". Racing Post. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  28. ^ "Moheet". Racing Post. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  29. ^ "Rogue Runner". Racing Post. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  30. ^ "Storm The Stars". Racing Post. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  31. ^ "Stammtafeln". Galopp Sieger. Galopp Sieger. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  32. ^ "Profiles Search". Racing Post. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  33. ^ "Progeny Reports". Pedigree Query. Pedigree Query. Retrieved 28 April 2020.