2021 Epsom Derby
{{short description|242nd running of the Epsom Derby horse race}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox horse race
|name = 2021 Epsom Derby
|horse race = Epsom Derby
|image_name =
|caption =
|location = Epsom Downs Racecourse
|date = 5 June 2021
|winning horse = Adayar
|starting price = 16/1
|winning jockey = Adam Kirby
|winning trainer = Charlie Appleby
|winning owner = Godolphin
|conditions = Good to Soft
|previous=2020
|next=2022
}}
{{Jockey colours header
| name = Epsom Derby 2021}}
{{Jockey colours row
| year = 1-2-3
| image1 = File:Owner Godolphin_red_cap.svg
| alt1 = Royal blue, Red cap
| caption1 = Adayar
| image2 = File:Owner Amo Racing Limited.svg
| alt2 = Violet, white quartered cap
| caption2 = Mojo Star
| image3 = File:Owner Godolphin.svg
| alt3 = Royal blue
| caption3 = Hurricane Lane
}}
|}
{| class="collapsible collapsed" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="clear:right; float:right; text-align:center; font-weight:bold;" width="280px"
! colspan="3" style="border:1px solid black; background-color: #77DD77;" | Also Ran
{{Jockey colours row
| year = 4-5-6
| image1 = File:Owner Mrs J S Bolger.svg
| alt1 = White, purple stripe, check cap
| caption1 = Mac Swiney
| image2 = File:Owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum.svg
| alt2 = Yellow, large black spots and spots on cap
| caption2 = Third Realm
| image3 = File:Owner Godolphin_white _cap.svg
| alt3 = Royal blue, white cap
| caption3 = One Ruler
}}
{{Jockey colours row
| year = 7-8-9
| image1 = File:Owner Mrs John Magnier.svg
| alt1 = Dark blue
| caption1 = Bolshoi Ballet
| image2 = File:Owner Ahmad Abdulla Al Shaikh.svg
| alt2 = White, emerald green epaulets and star on cap
| caption2 = Youth Spirit
| image3 = File:Owner Anamoine Ltd.svg
| alt3 = Yellow, red epaulets and sleeves
| caption3 = John Leeper
}}
{{Jockey colours row
| year = 10-11
| image1 = File:Owner Mr P C Ryan.svg
| alt1 = Maroon, yellow hoops, maroon sleeves, yellow cap
| caption1 = Gear Up
| image2 = File:Owner Aquis Farm Pty Ltd.svg
| alt2 = Light blue, black triple diamond, hooped sleeves
| caption2 = Southern Lights
| image3 = File: (at)-white.svg
| alt3 = 11 Ran
| caption3 = 11 Ran
}}
{{Jockey colours footer}}
The 2021 Epsom Derby was the 242nd annual running of the Derby horse race and took place at Epsom Downs Racecourse on 5 June 2021. The race was sponsored for the first time by the online car-dealer Cazoo.{{Cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/car-retailer-cazoo-unveiled-as-headline-derby-festival-sponsor/481942|title=Car retailer Cazoo unveiled as headline Derby festival sponsor|date=1 April 2021|first=Jonathan|last=Harding|website=Racing Post}}
The winner was Godolphin's bay colt Adayar, ridden by Adam Kirby and trained at Newmarket by Charlie Appleby. Godolphin and Appleby were winning the race for the second time, having taken the prize with Masar in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jun/05/adam-kirby-wins-the-derby-on-adayar-after-losing-original-big-race-ride-to-frankie-dettori-horse-racing|title=Adam Kirby wins Derby on Adayar after losing original big-race ride to Dettori|date=5 June 2021|work=Guardian|accessdate= 2 July 2021}}
Build-up
Attendance was limited to 4,000 owing to government restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The race took place after a period of hot, dry weather and the course officials resorted to watering the course to avoid unsuitably firm ground.{{Cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/latest/epsom-watering-continues-as-site-prepares-to-host-4000-per-day-this-week/492844|title=Epsom watering continues as site prepares to host 4,000 per day for Classics|first=David|last=Milnes|date=1 June 2021|website=Racing Post}}
The race attracted 19 entrants at the five-day declaration stage, including three previous Group 1 winners, namely Mac Swiney, Van Gogh and Gear Up. The other contenders included Bolshoi Ballet (Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial), Hurricane Lane (Dante Stakes), Youth Sprit (Chester Vase), Third Realm (Lingfield Derby Trial), Lone Eagle (Cocked Hat Stakes), High Definistion (Beresford Stakes), One Ruler (Autumn Stakes), John Leeper (Fairway Stakes) and Mohaafeth (Newmarket Stakes). There were ten entries from Ireland (six trained by Aidan O'Brien), nine from the United Kingdom (three trained by Charlie Appleby and none from continental Europe. The prospective field included five of the top six colts rated in the 8f+ category of the official classification of European two-year-olds for 2020, namely Mac Swiney, High Definition, Van Gogh, One Ruler and Gear Up.{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishhorseracing.com/press_releases/st-marks-basilica-leads-europes-colts-as-three-fillies-share-top-billing-in-two-year-old-classifications/|title=St Mark's Basilica leads Europe's colts as three fillies share top billing in two-year-old Classifications|website=The British Horseracing Authority}}
On Wednesday 2 June Aidan O'Brien announced that Bolshoi Ballet would probably be his only runner in the race and that his five other entries, including the second favourite High Definition, would be directed to alternative targets.{{Cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/latest/bolshoi-ballet-set-to-be-sole-aidan-obrien-runner-in-cazoo-derby/493076|title=Bolshoi Ballet to be sole Ballydoyle runner in Derby as Dettori gets Leeper ride|date=2 June 2021|first=Mark|last=Boylan|website=Racing Post}} As O'Brien suggested High Definition, Kyprios, Sir Lamorak, The Mediterranean and Van Gogh were withdrawn from the race on 3 June. The other absentees from the final field of 12 were Lone Eagle and Seattle Sound.{{Cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/latest/adam-kirby-back-in-the-derby-mix-as-he-picks-up-adayar-ride/493152|title=Confirmed runners and riders for Saturday's Cazoo Derby plus an early tip|date=3 June 2021|first=James|last=Stevens|website=Racing Post}} On the day of the race Mohaafeth was announced as a non-runner on account of the unsuitable ground conditions.
Race card
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| No
!Draw !Horse !Jockey !Owner |
|---|
| 1
| 1 | Adayar | 9–0 |
| 2
| 9 | 9–0 | Aidan O'Brien (IRE) |
| 3
| 6 | Gear Up | 9–0 | Teme Valley |
| 4
| 5 | 9–0 |
| 5
| 12 | John Leeper | 9–0 | Anamoine Ltd |
| 6
| 8 | 9–0 | Jim Bolger (IRE) | Jackie Bolger |
| 7
| 4 | Mohaafeth | 9–0 |
| 8
| 10 | Mojo Star | 9–0 |
| 9
| 11 | One Ruler | 9–0 |
| 10
| 3 | Southern Lights | 9–0 | Joseph Patrick O'Brien (IRE) | Aquis Racing & Al Mamoura Partnership |
| 11
| 2 | Third Realm | 9–0 | Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum |
| 12
| 7 | Youth Spirit | 9–0 | Ahmad Al Shaikh |
Trainers are based in Great Britain unless indicated.
Full result
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#7d7; text-align:center;"
| style="width:35px;"| | style="width:45px;"| Dist * | style="width:160px;"| Horse | style="width:160px;"| Jockey | style="width:200px;"| Trainer | style="width:80px;"| SP |
| 1
| | Adayar | 16/1 |
| 2
| 4½ | Mojo Star | 50/1 |
| 3
| 3¼ | 6/1 |
| 4
| 3¼ | Jim Bolger (IRE) | 8/1 |
| 5
| nk | Third Realm | 14/1 |
| 6
| 3 | One Ruler | 17/2 |
| 7
| 2¾ | Aidan O'Brien (IRE) | 11/8 fav |
| 8
| 2 | Youth Spirit | 25/1 |
| 9
| 1¼ | John Leeper | 8/1 |
| 10
| ¾ | Gear Up | 50/1 |
| 11
| 21 | Southern Lights | Joseph Patrick O'Brien (IRE) | 33/1 |
Winning time: 2 min 36.85 sec
* The distances between the horses are shown in lengths or shorter; nse = nose; hd = head.
† Trainers are based in Great Britain unless indicated.
Form analysis
= Two-year-old races =
Notable runs by the future Derby participants as two-year-olds in 2020
- Gear Up – 1st in Acomb Stakes, 1st in Criterium de Saint-Cloud{{cite web |title=Gear Up – Race Record & Form |publisher=Racing Post |url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/3125446/gear-up/form |accessdate=31 May 2021}}
- Mac Swiney – 1st in Vertem Futurity Trophy, 1st in Futurity Stakes{{cite web |title=Mac Swiney – Race Record & Form |publisher=Racing Post |url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/3102092/mac-swiney/form |accessdate=1 June 2021}}
- One Ruler – 1st in Autumn Stakes, 2nd in Vertem Futurity Trophy, 3rd in Flying Scotsman Stakes{{cite web |title=One Ruler – Race Record & Form |publisher=Racing Post |url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/3147624/one-ruler/form |accessdate=1 June 2021}}
- Youth Spirit – 3rd in Vintage Stakes{{cite web |title=Youth Spirit – Race Record & Form |publisher=Racing Post |url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/2951822/youth-spirit/form |accessdate=1 June 2021}}
= Road to Epsom =
Early-season appearances in 2021 and trial races prior to running in the Derby:
- Adayar – 2nd in Sandown Classic Trial, 2nd in Lingfield Derby Trial{{cite web |title=Adayar – Race Record & Form |publisher=Racing Post |url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/3241310/adayar/form |accessdate=31 May 2021}}
- Bolshoi Ballet – 1st in Ballysax Stakes, 1st in Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial{{cite web |title=Bolshoi Ballet – Race Record & Form |publisher=Racing Post |url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/2951839/bolshoi-ballet/form |accessdate=31 May 2021}}
- Hurricane Lane – 1st in Dante Stakes{{cite web |title=Hurricane Lane – Race Record & Form |publisher=Racing Post |url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/3257946/hurricane-lane/form|accessdate=31 May 2021}}
- John Leeper – 1st in Fairway Stakes{{cite web |title=John Leeper – Race Record & Form |publisher=Racing Post |url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/2951781/john-leeper/form |accessdate=1 June 2021}}
- Mohaafeth – 1st in Newmarket Stakes{{cite web |title=Mohaafeth – Race Record & Form |publisher=Racing Post |url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/3208332/mohaafeth/form |accessdate=1 June 2021}}
- Mac Swiney – 1st in Irish 2000 Guineas
- Third Realm – 1st in Lingfield Derby Trial{{cite web |title=Third Realm – Race Record & Form |publisher=Racing Post |url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/2951812/third-realm/form |accessdate=1 June 2021}}
- Youth Spirit – 1st in Chester Vase
=Subsequent Group 1 wins=
Group 1 / Grade I victories after running in the Derby:
- Adayar - King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2021)
- Bolshoi Ballet – Belmont Derby (2021), Sword Dancer Stakes (2023)
- Hurricane Lane – Irish Derby (2021), Grand Prix de Paris (2021), St Leger Stakes (2021)