Adam Kirby wins Derby on Adayar after losing original big-race ride to Dettori
Adam Kirby #AdamKirby
Adayar, a late gamble down to 16-1 at the off, and ridden by late replacement Adam Kirby, won the Derby at Epsom. The jockey only got the ride late in the build-up to the race after his original mount, John Leeper, was claimed by Frankie Dettori.
Related: The Derby 2021: Adayar surges to victory at Epsom – live!
The popular rider appeared in shock afterwards. “There are ups and downs there are swings and roundabouts but I can’t thank [the trainer] Charlie Appleby enough – he is a true gentleman and a great trainer,” said Kirby. “The Appleby team are second to none – I’ll give [Charlie] a cuddle in a minute.”
“This is the Derby lads – get in there!” he added. When he was asked afterwards about the “brave” way he rode by sticking to the inside rail, he said: “I had no choice!”
Newmarket trainer Appleby revealed afterwards that it was down to Sheikh Mohammed, the founder of the Godolphin operation, that the horse ran in the race. “All the credit must to Sheikh Mohammed. I did feel this horse is more of a Leger horse but when I spoke to His Highness he said ‘Charlie run him there is only one Derby’.
“It was a fantastic ride from Adam – he was hungry for it. I got on very well with him. He gets on well with this horse – in fact he broke him in.”
The win by Adayar gave his handler a second win in the Epsom Classic after Masar in 2018. The winner was the first victory in the Derby for the sire Frankel, widely regarded as the greatest horse to have raced in Britain.
Gear Up set the early gallop, with Kirby on his heels aboard Adayar and Youth Spirit also prominent in the early stages. Favourite Bolshoi Ballet was also towards the head of the field, settled in fourth on the outside, while the well-fancied John Leeper was restrained in last place by Dettori until the field reached Tattenham Corner.
Gear Up started to drop away with two furlongs to run, allowing Kirby a run up the inside rail and he soon put daylight between himself and the field. Mojo Star finished well from off the pace to take second, with Hurricane Lane also keeping on at the one pace for minor honours, but Adayar prevailed by four and a half lengths.
Bolshoi Ballet and John Leeper were both ultimately well beaten and the result provided Kirby with a happy ending, after he was jocked off John Leeper earlier in the week in favour of Dettori. Oisin Murphy was booked for Adayar, but Kirby then replaced him on Thursday.