Legends, longshots and last-gasp drama – relive the Derby moments that made Epsom roar
Epsom Icons: Reliving Five Unforgettable Epsom Derby Triumphs
Few sporting spectacles offer the same cocktail of tradition, tension and sheer theatre as the Epsom Derby. The undulating Downs, the testing mile and a half, and the weight of history on every hoofbeat make this one of the greatest Flat races in the world. With the 2025 Betfred Derby fast approaching, what better time to take a gallop back through some of the race’s most iconic moments?
From the commanding presence of Nashwan to the madcap brilliance of Pour Moi and Mickael Barzalona, these are the performances that still quicken the pulse and stir the soul. And while we’re enjoying a nostalgic trip through the decades, a quick nod to Ladbrokes, one of the UK’s leading bookmakers, who are currently offering a generous Bet £5 Get £20 in free bets for new punters – perfect if you fancy backing this year’s potential legend in waiting.
1989: Nashwan – The King of Spring and Summer
If any horse can claim ownership of the late 1980s, it’s Nashwan. His ascent from winter unknown to Classic conqueror began with a now-legendary early-morning gallop at West Ilsley – the kind of rumour-fuelled workout that sends ripples through racing circles and bookmakers into full-scale panic.
After romping home in the 2,000 Guineas, Nashwan arrived at Epsom as the red-hot Derby favourite. Awaiting him was Cacoethes, Guy Harwood’s up-and-coming colt who had looked mighty impressive in the Lingfield trial. Determined to test Nashwan’s stamina, Cacoethes was sent for home the moment the field turned for the straight. For a fleeting moment, it seemed a bold move might pay off.
But then came the side-on camera shot – the moment that remains seared into the memory of many. Willie Carson, looking momentarily flat-footed, suddenly let out a touch more rein and Nashwan responded in kind, his stride lengthening like a steam train finding its gears. Within a matter of seconds, he swept past Cacoethes and thundered clear, dismissing stamina doubts in an emphatic burst of class.
The result was never really in question thereafter, even though 250/1 outsider Terimon flew home for second, proving himself no fluke by later achieving Group One success. Nashwan’s Epsom triumph formed part of a rare and aggressive campaign that included wins in the Eclipse and King George. It was, quite simply, the summer of Nashwan – and Epsom was its crowning moment.
2002: High Chaparral v Hawk Wing – Stablemates at War
If 1989 was about sheer dominance, the 2002 Derby brought intrigue, internal rivalry and the sort of tactical tension that made it feel more like a Las Vegas prize fight than a Flat race. Ballydoyle arrived with two heavyweights: the charismatic and flashy Hawk Wing and the relentless, workmanlike High Chaparral.
Hawk Wing had turned heads with a strong 2,000 Guineas performance and carried plenty of public affection into Epsom, reunited with stable jockey Michael Kinane. High Chaparral, meanwhile, brought a grinding, stay-all-day galloping style and had the benefit of Johnny Murtagh in the saddle – a man with one Derby trophy already under his belt.
The two horses had shared the early market lead, but come race day, it was Hawk Wing who attracted the weight of late money. As the field swung into the home straight, things were playing out beautifully for High Chaparral. Murtagh drove him into the lead over two furlongs from home, ensuring the test would suit his horse’s strengths.
Hawk Wing followed, Kinane biding his time, but when push came to shove, the flashy favourite simply didn’t have the same resolve. Murtagh kept his partner rolling to the line and held off the late charge, giving himself a second Derby title and putting High Chaparral on the map as a top-class colt.
Hawk Wing was never asked to run over a mile and a half again. He would go on to drop back in trip and produce a blistering performance in the Lockinge the following season – earning a Timeform rating of 136, the highest ever awarded to an Aidan O’Brien trainee. Meanwhile, High Chaparral added an Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes, and two Breeders’ Cup Turfs to his CV. But for many, it’s the Epsom showdown that lingers longest in the memory.
2007: Authorized and Frankie’s Long-Awaited Moment
Some Derby wins are about the horse. Others – rightly or wrongly – are about the jockey. In 2007, Frankie Dettori finally got the monkey off his back in the most dazzling fashion aboard Peter Chapple-Hyam’s Authorized.
It was Dettori’s fifteenth attempt at Derby glory, and he arrived at Epsom aboard the best horse in the field. Authorized had won the Racing Post Trophy at two and sauntered home in the Dante at York on his reappearance. Sent off the 5/4 favourite, expectations were sky-high.
The race itself couldn’t have unfolded more smoothly. As Dettori rounded Tattenham Corner with the son of Montjeu travelling strongly beneath him, he began to pick off rivals one by one with an almost casual efficiency. His mount’s tongue flapped joyously in the wind as Dettori cruised into contention, and at the two-furlong pole, the race was done.
Authorized surged clear, galloping past the post five lengths ahead of Eagle Mountain, and finally gave Frankie his long-awaited Derby trophy. It was a demolition job. Smooth, stylish and unflustered – a Derby win with all the Dettori trademarks.
Why it didn’t make more top ten lists, who knows. Maybe it was too easy. But for fans of drama-free dominance, this was a masterclass.
2009: Sea The Stars – Rare Air, Rare Talent
By 2009, it had been twenty years since a horse had completed the Guineas-Derby double, but Sea The Stars arrived at Epsom with that kind of buzz. Smooth, efficient and blessed with that rare combination of pace and stamina, he wasn’t even sent off favourite – a booming late gamble on Fame And Glory saw to that – but those who kept the faith were soon vindicated.
Fame And Glory had followed the High Chaparral blueprint, landing both the Ballysax and Derrinstown trials. But when it came to the big day, he was simply outgunned. Sea The Stars stalked the field, travelled like a dream, and when asked, quickened like a champion.
The winning margin – one and three-quarter lengths – didn’t scream ‘greatness’, but the manner of it did. Cool, confident and unbothered by the Epsom challenge, Sea The Stars confirmed what many had suspected: he was something very special indeed.
He would go on to add the Irish Champion Stakes and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, finishing his career unbeaten in six starts as a three-year-old and earning a Timeform rating of 140 – elite company by any measure. His Derby win may not have been the flashiest, but it was the most effortlessly brilliant.
And if you’re hoping to unearth the next Sea The Stars this year, it’s worth remembering that Ladbrokes are offering Bet £5 Get £20 in free bets – ideal for those hoping to turn a small stake into a golden memory.
2011: Pour Moi and Barzalona’s Mad Genius
Some Derby winners stay in the memory not because of what they did, but how they did it. Pour Moi’s 2011 triumph wasn’t the fastest, or the classiest, or even the most competitive on paper. But it gave us something better – a moment of pure, adrenaline-fuelled madness.
Mickael Barzalona, just nineteen years old and riding in his first Derby, partnered the Andre Fabre-trained colt in the blue of Coolmore. Pour Moi was held up at the back, stone last as the field rounded Tattenham Corner, with only the no-hopers behind as they hit the three-furlong pole.
Most jockeys would have panicked. Not Barzalona. He weaved his way through the pack, picking off rivals one by one. Pour Moi was still behind with a furlong to go, but the colt responded, flying down the outside to collar Treasure Beach right on the line.
The celebration, though, was the stuff of legend. Barzalona, not even in front yet, stood bolt upright in the saddle, whip aloft like he’d just won Olympic gold. He could have cost himself the race. He could have been a cautionary tale. Instead, his mad timing was bang on, and he produced one of the most iconic moments in Derby history.
There’s a fine line between genius and madness in sport. Barzalona skipped across it and back again, delivering a finish that still gets talked about in pubs and paddocks to this day.
The Final Furlong: Five Moments, Endless Memories
The Derby isn’t just a horse race – it’s a narrative that twists and turns with every passing year. From the raw dominance of Nashwan to the emotional closure of Dettori, the classic Ballydoyle bust-up of 2002, the cool brilliance of Sea The Stars, and the madcap bravery of Barzalona, these are the stories that keep us coming back.
And who knows what Epsom has in store for us this year? One thing’s for sure – you’ll want to be on board when the gates crash open. Whether you fancy a bold punt on a longshot or a well-backed favourite, the leading UK bookmakers have a great range of UK free bets for you to take advantage of – the perfect way to join in the drama without risking the house.
Because if the past has taught us anything, it’s that the Derby always delivers – sometimes with style, sometimes with shock, but always with a story worth telling.
