{"id":15481,"date":"2020-07-04T14:47:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-04T18:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=15481"},"modified":"2020-07-05T09:49:03","modified_gmt":"2020-07-05T13:49:03","slug":"25-1-serpentine-wins-derby-just-one-week-after-losing-maiden-tag","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=15481","title":{"rendered":"25-1 Serpentine Wins Derby Just One Week After Losing Maiden Tag"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Serpentine ridden by jockey Emmet McNamara wins the Investec Derby at Epsom Racecourse (Bill Selwyn\/PA Wire)
<\/figcaption><\/figure>Serpentine sprang a 25-1 surprise as he made all for a famous victory in the Investec Derby at Epsom.<\/p>\n

One of six runners for Aidan O\u2019Brien \u2013 who was winning the race for an incredible eighth time \u2013 Serpentine only shed his maiden tag at the third time of asking last weekend.<\/p>\n

Turning out just seven days later, Serpentine appeared to be filling the pacemaker role for better-fancied stable companions, including Mogul, with Khalifa Sat and fellow O\u2019Brien contender Amhran Na Bhfiann the only ones to really try to go with him.<\/p>\n

But Serpentine and Emmet McNamara had built up a huge advantage by Tattenham Corner, and the Galileo colt was not for stopping \u2013 galloping all the way to the line for a five-and-a-half-length verdict.<\/p>\n

Khalifa Sat, a 50-1 shot, hung on for second, while Amhran Na Bhfiann was third at 66-1 for a tricast that paid \u00a355,977.83.<\/p>\n

Kameko, winner of the 2000 Guineas, was a fast-finisher in fourth, having been sent off the 5-2 favorite, while English King was fifth and Mogul sixth under Ryan Moore.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Brien said: \u201cWe try to give each horse the best chance of winning and ride them all accordingly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis horse (Serpentine) made the running last time and was very happy to go forward if nobody else wanted to.<\/p>\n

“He won a maiden very impressively and he absolutely ran through the line over a mile and a quarter at the Curragh \u2013 to do that you have to have class.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all watched the race together at home and Donnacha (O\u2019Brien, son) said after five furlongs \u2018Emmet wins here\u2019. He was in front and there was no one going to challenge him \u2013 he was not going to stop.<\/p>\n

\u201cEmmet gave him a brilliant ride and judged the pace really well.\u201d On setting a new record for Derby victories, he added: \u201cWe\u2019re so delighted, but we\u2019re in a privileged position to have such unbelievable horses and to work for and with such special people.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a position very few people will ever get into. The horses have incredible pedigrees and everyone puts their heart and soul into it day in, day out. Everyone loves what they do and we appreciate all the opportunities that we get.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very special to us to be part of a team of such special people.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d obviously love to be there, but we\u2019re lucky to be racing. We\u2019d love to be there, but it can\u2019t be as if we came back here afterwards I wouldn\u2019t be able to do anything for a couple of weeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s great the racing is on and a great credit to everyone who is making it happen.\u201d Looking to future plans for the winner, O\u2019Brien said: \u201cWe always thought he\u2019d stay very well and I don\u2019t think he\u2019d have any problem getting the St Leger trip, if that\u2019s what the lads decide to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe could be an Arc horse \u2013 that\u2019s in the autumn and the ground could be soft, I don\u2019t think he\u2019d have any problem with that.<\/p>\n

\u201cLove (Oaks winner) is a beautiful mover and I don\u2019t think you\u2019d want to be going in deep ground with her, but this horse should handle it, so it\u2019s very possible.\u201d <\/p>\n

McNamara, who was a close second in the Irish Derby last week aboard Tiger Moth, said: \u201cI didn\u2019t expect to win, but Aidan did fill me with a huge amount of confidence, so it\u2019s not a complete surprise.<\/p>\n

\u201cAidan told me if we got things right with the pace and everything he is one horse that could win the Derby. He instilled that into me and I actually did believe him \u2013 if he told you the sky was green you\u2019d believe him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought I was getting an easy lead. I couldn\u2019t hear a thing all the way through the race and I was imagining they were after ignoring me a bit and just hoping the clock in my own head was working \u2013 I thought I\u2019d saved enough in the first half of the race to get home.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t hear a thing all the way through the race, apart from the horse breathing, and I think that\u2019s what makes it even more surreal \u2013 the empty stands and never seeing another horse. I feel like I\u2019m going to wake up after riding a bit of work \u2013 it\u2019s a bit unbelievable.<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m lucky I was on the horse today. There are a thousand other lads in the weighing room that are far more talented than me, but they didn\u2019t ride Serpentine in the Derby today.”<\/p>\n

McNamara had not ridden a winner since October, and added: \u201cI\u2019ve been saving myself! Things are very tough getting rides in Ireland and I\u2019m in Aidan\u2019s every morning, so I\u2019m not going here, there and everywhere to ride out.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not the lightest in the world, but Aidan knows I\u2019m as fit as a fiddle and I\u2019m extremely grateful to him and the owners for the faith they\u2019ve shown in me.\u201d Having been narrowly denied victory in last week\u2019s Irish Derby aboard Tiger Moth, McNamara will be riding O\u2019Brien-trained outsider Fort Myers in the French Derby at Chantilly on Sunday, after which he will return to Ireland and spend 14 days in quarantine due to the current travel restrictions in place to combat coronavirus.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cI told Aidan I wouldn\u2019t mind 14 months in quarantine, never mind 14 days!<\/p>\n

\u201cHopefully it will be another big day in Chantilly. I\u2019ll have ridden in three Derbys in little over a week, which is crazy really, but I\u2019m just glad to have the opportunity.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure I\u2019ll be OK in quarantine for 14 days \u2013 it will give me plenty of time to watch the replays!\u201d <\/p>\n

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