Calling a horse Ruler Of The World might be viewed as a touch arrogant but the colt lived up to his name when he galloped home to win the 234th English Derby at Epsom on Saturday.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained 3YO started the race at 7-1 and was only having the third start of his career. He beat Libertarian by one and a half lengths, with Galileo Rock another short head behind in third.
The result gave O’Brien his fourth victory in the Classic and jockey Ryan Moore his second and Coolmore their third Epsom Derby in a row. Ruler Of The World also gave his sire Galileo his second English Derby winner.
But it was a day of disappointment for the 5-4 favorite, Godolphin-owned Dawn Approach, who failed in his quest to add the Derby to his 2,000 Guineas triumph last month.
Dawn Approach was undone by the stop-start pedestrian early pace and was one of the first horses beaten as they turned for home and he trailed in last.
By Owens Wong
