Epsom Derby 2023: Auguste Rodin wins as Frankie Dettori denied farewell win on Arrest
- Published
Jockey Moore's win gave trainer Aidan O'Brien a record-extending ninth Derby win
Ryan Moore won his third Derby by guiding Auguste Rodin to victory at Epsom as Frankie Dettori finished 10th on Arrest in his last ride in the race.
Surrey police made 19 arrests before the meet and there was tight security to prevent animal rights protesters disrupting the Classic's 244th running.
One did make it on to the track before he was tackled by police, while another was stopped from climbing a fence.
The victory gave trainer Aidan O'Brien a record-extending ninth Derby triumph.
"He came with a massive reputation as a beautiful horse but he kept stepping up to all the markers all the way, which is very unusual," said O'Brien.
The 9-2 winner chased down 66-1 outsider King of Steel to win by half a length and the two finished well clear of White Birch in third, with Sprewell in fourth.
Auguste Rodin had finished 12th of 14 runners when sent off favourite for last month's 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
"We had a smooth run. We landed in a smooth spot, I had William [Buick, on Military Order] and Frankie [Dettori, on Arrest] ahead of me and was always confident I had them covered," Moore told ITV.
"We didn't go that quickly, it turned in to a bit of a dash, but I was getting a nice smooth run.
"I always thought I had the race won, but I just had to get into him in the last furlong and he responded very gamely. He's done that quite cosily, I think."
Dettori, who has won the Derby twice, is retiring this year.
"The track was too much for him [Arrest], he just could not run down the hill," said the 52-year-old Italian.
"He had legs everywhere bless him, so we were a long way out."
The race was moved from its traditional 16:30 time slot to 13:30 to avoid clashing with the FA Cup final at 15:00.
Animal rights activists delayed the start of the Grand National in April by getting on to the track at Aintree and had pledged to similarly disrupt the Derby, one of Flat racing's five British Classics.
That led to the Jockey Club winning a High Court injunction to ban people from entering or throwing objects on the race track, entering the parade ring and any other action that could disrupt proceedings.
The organisation was critical of Saturday's "reckless and illegal behaviour", while the British Horseracing Authority said the actions - for which protest group Animal Rising has claimed responsibility - jeopardised the safety of horses and riders.
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