Epsom Classics Review: Ross Millar gives his take on this year's Derby and Oaks

THE OAKS

If ever a race showed that there can be a fine margin between victory and defeat, this was it. Both the winner, Tuesday, and runner-up, Emily Upjohn, lost lengths at the start in the Oaks. Tuesday perhaps showed her relative inexperience by jumping a touch tardy from the gate, while Emily Upjohn suffered the most unfortunate of slips. 

That meant both riders - Ryan Moore and Frankie Dettori - had to switch from Plan A to Plan B as their mounts found themselves towards the rear of the Classic field. The sedate early pace set by Thoughts Of June at least meant that they were able to attach themselves to the main body without expending too much precious energy.

After cruising down the hill, the race began in earnest as the fillies entered the home straight, with both Moore and Dettori sat behind the eventual third Nashwa as they waited to move forward. Tuesday had the advantage of a run up the far-side while Dettori on Emily Upjohn felt his only option was to come wide around the rest of the field. 

In hindsight, he might wish that he had waited two more strides as a nice gap inside Kawida opened up. Given the gears his filly showed, I’m sure that she would have had the speed to plot a similar path to the one that Nashwa navigated.

Nevertheless, Tuesday and Ryan Moore got a preferential and shorter run up the inside before prevailed in a head-bobbing finish. Surely even the most hardened Coolmore fans are aware that the extra distance Emily Upjohn covered was the difference in the result.

Connections immediately suggested that Tuesday could drop back in trip to 1m2f and, given her turn of foot, that makes plenty of sense. Meanwhile, Emily Upjohn’s co-trainer John Gosden said that she will stick to this trip and work back from the Arc, where her three-year-old filly allowances would come into play.

This year’s Oaks revolved around two fillies, but it would be foolish to disregard the performances of those in behind. The aforementioned Nashwa ran a touch keen and possibly didn’t quite get home. While the same can be said about Rogue Millennium, who gave her owners plenty to cheer about but also didn’t see out the Oaks trip.

Keep a close eye on With The Moonlight, who didn’t handle the course at all - she struggled to stay balanced down the hill and failed to cope with the camber in the home straight. She previously hinted that she is better than she showed.

How good was this year’s Oaks?

Time will prove how good the 2022 Oaks was, but my initial instinct was that the first three fillies to cross the line are high-class performers and will uphold this form throughout the season.

Desert Crown: won the 2022 Derby for SBK ambassador Richard Kingscote

THE DERBY

Plenty of the colts in this year’s Derby got warm down at the start, probably due to the idiotic decision to let off fireworks from the grandstand. While I understand the need for racecourse executives to promote the sport to a wider public, I’d suggest that if they can’t do that by putting the horses and the supporting cast of jockeys and trainers at the front and centre of the promotion then possibly this sport isn’t for them.

Eventual winner, Desert Crown, was unaffected by all the commotion. He jumped well from gate 12 and, although there was a brief moment of concern for his supporters when he was momentarily posted three-wide, Richard Kingscote was able to find a slot just one off the rail after a couple of furlongs and, from that point on, there only looked like being one winner.

He negotiated the hill beautifully, demonstrating the wonderful balance that his trainer Sir Michael Stoute had eluded to after his Dante win, and he cruised to the front on the bridle seemingly at ease. When asked to quicken, Desert Crown put the race to bed in a matter of strides to ultimately win eased down in cosy fashion.

Westover was certainly the hard-luck story of the race as rider Rob Hornby was unable to find a clear passage from three furlongs out to the one-furlong pole. He possibly lacked the tactical speed for a race of this calibre and I would be against him if he heads to the Curragh for the Irish Derby. However, he’s firmly on my radar for the St Leger, where I could see the extra two furlongs suiting.

Many have already sought to knock the form of the race, citing that the proximity of 150 shot Hoo Ya Mal, who finished second, and fourth-placed Masekela, proved a lack of strength in depth.

However, I would counter this opinion on two fronts. Firstly, Desert Crown got to the front too soon, such was his superiority, and was only doing enough on the run for home. Secondly, both Hoo Ya Mal and Masekela came from the rear and passed beaten horses. Desert Crown raced prominently and was able to sustain his gallop.

How good was this year’s Derby?

While we may not have seen a vintage field, I think the winner, who showed fireworks of the right kind, is well above average and possibly the best Derby winner we have seen for a decade.