Snowfall leaves them all adrift

Gary McKenzie on last week’s Classic performances 

Usually, when reviewing Epsom, I would begin with the Derby. But I think we need to take a look at the Oaks first, and what looked like an amazing performance.

Snowfall was sixteen lengths clear at the line, which is a record margin. Time will tell how good the form is but sixteen lengths in a Group One needs to be taken seriously.
Had Santa Barbara won the race in that fashion she would have been hailed as the second coming of Pegasus.

Snowfall will likely contest the Irish version next where she is bound to be a short priced favourite. Another performance like this and she will surely be given her due.

She wasn’t stopping at Epsom so I wonder if a St Leger bid is on the cards for later in the season.

Strange week

Adayar won the Derby with Adam Kirby on board. The jockey was replaced on his original mount, John Leeper, by Frankie Dettori so a strange week for Mr Kirby.

Adayar had been second in both the Sandown and Lingfield Derby trials after being slowly away. He didn’t get the greatest starts here either and Kirby stuck to the rail which can be risky.

But, when the gap came, he had enough horse to burst through and his four-length margin of victory did not appear to flatter him.

He could be aimed at Ascot’s King George next month, a race not won by a three year old colt since Nathaniel in 2011. Galileo was the last Derby winner to follow up at Ascot and that was 20 years ago. I love the race and I hope we have a decent sized field and a proper all-aged contest.

Royal Ascot next week – I am a tad excited.

Good Luck All