Aidan O’Brien’s Santiago headed the betting in what looked like a wide-open renewal of the Doncaster showpiece, having posted an excellent effort when third against his elders in the Goodwood Cup. The Auhorized colt was just one of three entries from the Aidan O’Brien operation, whilst his son Joseph looked to have solid claims of his own with the rapidly improving Galileo Chrome.
The pick of the home team according to the betting market were the Owen Burrows-trained, Hukum, who arrived on the back of a rock-solid Group 3 success at Newbury, and William Muir’s Great Voltigeur winner, Pyledriver.
Result
- 1st – Galileo Chrome 4/1, Jockey: Tom Marquand, Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
- 2nd – Berkshire Rocco 16/1, Jockey: Andrea Atzeni, Trainer: Andrew Balding
- 3rd – Pyledriver 9/2, Jockey: Martin Dwyer, Trainer: William Muir
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £198,485
- 2nd – £75,250
- 3rd – £37,660
- 4th – £18,760
- 5th – £9,415
- 6th – £4,725
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – £5.40
- Tote Places – 1st – £1.90, 2nd – £4.10, 3rd – £1.70
- Exacta – £62.80
- Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – £58.99
- Trifecta – £374.80
- Tricast – £298.44
Recap
This as an unusual edition of Britain’s oldest Classic, with the event held in front of empty grandstands due to the worldwide health issues at the time. However, despite the lack of paying spectators, the race still produced a real thriller.
Mark Johnston’s Subjectivist and Aidan O’Brien’s Mythical ensured there was no hanging around in this one, with the pair getting into an early battle for the lead, and remaining at the head of affairs into the home straight.
The leaders’ exertions began to tell around 2f from home, and as they wilted, a raft of challengers emerged from out of the pack. Headed into the final furlong there were five spread right across the track, with Santiago, Berkshire Rocco, Galileo Chrome, Hukum, and Pyledriver all in with a chance. Hukum didn’t quite stay the trip, and Pyledriver didn’t help his cause by veering markedly left on the run to the line.
In the end, it was left to Berkshire Rocco and Galileo Chrome to fight it out, with the Joseph O’Brien runner just asserting close home to land a cracker by a neck. Despite his errant ways, Pyledriver hung on by a short head from Santiago to take third.
This success represented a notable double for Joseph O’Brien, with the trainer having previously won the race as a jockey aboard Leading Light in 2013. For Tom Marquand, the win marked a first Classic success.
Runners
- 1. Berkshire Rocco – SP: 16/1, Trainer: Andrew Balding, Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
- 2. Dawn Patrol – SP: 22/1, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Paddy Beggy
- 3. English King – NR, Trainer: Ed Walker
- 4. Galileo Chrome – SP: 4/1, Trainer: Joseph O’Brien, Jockey: Tom Marquand
- 5. Hukum – SP: 7/2, Trainer: Owen Burrows, Jockey: Jim Crowley
- 6. Mohican Heights – SP: 22/1, Trainer: David Simcock, Jockey: Jamie Spencer
- 7. Mythical – SP: 66/1, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Emmet McNamara
- 8. Pyledriver – SP: 9/2, Trainer: William Muir, Jockey: Martin Dwyer
- 9. Santiago – SP: 5/2F, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Frankie Dettori
- 10. Subjectivist – SP: 16/1, Trainer: Mark Johnston, Jockey: Joe Fanning
- 11. Sunchart – SP: 80/1, Trainer: Andrew Slattery, Jockey: Andrew Slattery
- 12. Tyson Fury – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Richard Spencer, Jockey: Kieran Shoemark</li
Non Runners
English King (self-certificate)