Simon Durrant, General Manager of Epsom Downs Racecourse, said: "Despite different circumstances, this year's Investec Derby Day has been fantastic with great quality racing.

 

"We witnessed Aidan O'Brien become the most successful Investec Derby-winning trainer of all time while he enjoyed an eighth victory in the Investec Oaks.

 

"We would like to thank everyone for staying at home and watching the brilliant coverage from both ITV and Racing TV.

 

"I would like to thank all the team at Epsom Downs Racecourse for their hard work over the past few weeks, especially clerk of the course Andrew Cooper who was officiating at his 25th Investec Derby.

"We look forward to welcoming everyone back next year for the 242nd running of the Investec Derby."

 

The concluding Investec Zebra Handicap (5.35pm) was won by 7/2 favourite Muntadab (Roger Fell/Ben Curtis).

 

1:50pm INVESTEC WOODCOTE EBF STAKES

Nothing to report

 

2:25pm INVESTEC SURREY STAKES (Listed Race)

Permission was given for SHINE SO BRIGHT to wear a red hood to post.

 

3:00pm. INVESTEC HANDICAP

Permission was given for CERTAIN LAD to be mounted on the chute and go early to post and for JOHNNY DRAMA (IRE) to wear a hood in the Parade Ring. The Starter reported that WARGRAVE (IRE) refused to enter stalls and was withdrawn at 15:04. George Baker was informed that the colt could not run until the day after passing a stalls test.

 

3:40pm INVESTEC OAKS (Group 1)

Permission was given for FRANKLY DARLING and TIEMPO VUELA to go early to post wearing a red hood and for GOLD WAND (IRE) and QUEEN DAENERYS (IRE) to wear a red hood to post. An enquiry was held into the running and riding of PASSION (IRE), ridden by Padraig Beggy and trained by Aidan O'Brien, which was positively ridden to force a strong pace before being asked for an effort in the straight, finishing fifth of eight beaten by 14 ¾ lengths. The rider was interviewed and shown recordings of the race. The rider stated that his instructions were to jump well and if another runner was giving a lead, to take it but to keep her going forward as she is a strong stayer. Beggy explained that PASSION (IRE) jumped well and having initially taken a lead off TIEMPO VUELA, unplaced, ridden by Martin Harley, he felt his mount was lugging right and as such resulted in him racing towards the outside of TIEMPO VUELA. He continued that at this stage both horses began to take each other on, but he felt that the gap between them and the rest of the field was exaggerated by the remainder of the field easing the pace. He further added that he felt that PASSION (IRE) ran a good race and allowed the filly to run within her own rhythm from the top of the hill to approximately 4 ½ furlongs out. Beggy's explanations were noted. An enquiry was held into the running and riding of TIEMPO VUELA, ridden by Martin Harley and trained by John Gosden, which made the running at a strong tempo before weakening from the top of the hill, finishing last of eight beaten by 51 ¾ lengths. The rider was interviewed and shown recordings of the race. The rider stated that his instructions were to jump well and obtain a position at the front. Harley explained that after jumping fine the filly travelled well going up the hill but when challenged to the outside by PASSION (IRE), placed fifth, ridden by Padraig Beggy, TIEMPO VUELA began to over race. He added that whilst going down the hill he did not want to break the filly's rhythm by easing back. He further added that he felt that TIEMPO VUELA was unsuited by the undulations of the track. Harley's explanations were noted. Following the race, John Gosden's representative reported that FRANKLY DARLING, placed third, was

unsuited by the undulating track.

 

4:15pm PRINCESS ELIZABETH STAKES (Sponsored by Investec) (Group 3)

Permission was given for ONASSIS (IRE) and SUMMER ROMANCE (IRE) to wear a red hood to post. An enquiry was held to consider why Charlie Fellowes was running ONASSIS (IRE) here at Epsom on going described as Good, having declared the filly a non-runner at Newbury on 13 June 2020 on ground with the same official description. The trainer stated that Newbury was 1m 2f, over rain softened ground and as today was 1m with ground drying under a strong wind, he was happy for ONASSIS (IRE) to take its chances today. Following the race, Frankie Dettori reported that LOVE AND THUNDER (IRE), placed sixth, ran too free.

 

4:55pm. INVESTEC DERBY (Group 1)

HIGHLAND CHIEF (IRE) wore ear plugs which were removed at the start and was given permission to go early to post.

 

5:35pm INVESTEC ZEBRA HANDICAP

Richard Hannon had obtained prior permission from the BHA to run MAGICAL WISH (IRE) partially shod. Following the race, Pat Cosgrave reported that HATEYA (IRE), unplaced, was slowly away and the Veterinary Officer reported that the filly had post-race cardiac arrhythmia but reverted to normal quickly. Joey Haynes reported that MEDIEVAL (IRE), unplaced, hung left-handed under pressure.