Ruler Of The World wins Investec Derby
Ruler Of The World lived up to his ambitious name when winning the Investec Derby at Epsom today.
The chestnut Galileo colt, ridden by Ryan Moore and trained by Aidan O’Brien, came home 1 1/2 lengths ahead of the fast-finishing Libertarian, with Galileo Rock a short-head behind in third. His starting price was 7-1.
The ante-post favourite Dawn Approach blew his chances by becoming very het-up with the slow early pace. Jockey Kevin Manning had no chance of controlling the Jim Bolger-trained 2000 Guineas winner, who fought his way to the front much too early and failed to stay the mile and a half distance, finishing last.
Ruler Of The World didn’t run as a two-year-old – the Derby was only his third race – and came here after winning the Chester Vase impressively.
“That was a very messy race,” said Ryan Moore, for whom it was a second Derby victory after Workforce in 2010. “I had to let this fellow go on when I did, and he got the trip very well. I think he’ll get further. He really toughed it out.”
Ruler Of The World, out of Love Me True and therefore a half-brother to multiple Group One winner Duke Of Marmalade, was wearing sheepskin cheek-pieces – the first Derby winner to do so. It was Aidan O’Brien’s fourth success in the race.
Battle Of Marengo, who made much of the early pace under Joseph O’Brien, finished fourth, ahead of French raider Ocovango.
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A St Andrews’ graduate, Catherine joined Horse & Hound in 2002 and stayed for 11 years in a variety of roles until she went freelance in June 2013. She rejoined the team part-time in November 2016 as hunting editor. She pretty much lives on the hunting field or at the racecourse, but also loves eventing, as a journalist, press officer and competitor. She was H&H’s sole accredited journalist at the London Olympic Games and has reported from major race meetings and eventing, showjumping and dressage championships and shows round the world, and has hunted all over Britain and Ireland.