Three Weekend Eyecatchers - 03/06/19

There is no better place to start then the highlight of the weekends racing which was the Epsom Derby and Aidan O'Brien's seventh success in the prestigious race.

The Ballydoyle master trainer had seven chances to win the contest but it was Anthony Van Dyck that landed the spoils for the Irishman with Seamie Heffernan on board to land his first ever Derby victory.

The son of Galileo was a superstar as a two year old, but this year looked a different animal maturing and really growing into his coat to make him a dangerous Derby competitor.

After his victory in the Derby Trial at Lingfield he was placed in at third or fourth favourite depending which bookmaker you went with and on the Saturday went off at 13/2.

Heffernan in the latter stages of the contest shifted the three year old over towards the far side rail and used it to power the colt home and land the spoils in what was a hotly contested Classic.

Credit - Racing TV

Another special moment on the Saturday at Epsom saw Richard Hannon land his 1,000th winner as a trainer when Anna Nerium under a superb ride from Tom Marquand landed the Group 3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes.

The four year old filly is a very small horse compared to the rest of the field on the day and when coming round the corner to go for home she looked out of the race.

However, her burst of pace to come round the outside was to much for the other runners and she ran on gamely to take the spoils and give her trainer a day he will never forget.

Credit - Racing TV

The final eye-catcher from last weekends racing comes from Sunday's exploits and over in France it was the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club otherwise known as the French Derby.

Persian King was the star name on everyones lips at Chantilly but he could not make it six wins from six as the Jean-Claude Rouget trained Sottsass took the spoils.

The three year old, who was a shock winner of the contest, powered home in the latter stages of the race to breeze clear of the rest of the field to land the first Group 1 contest of the year and his trainers third victory in the last four renewals.

Credit - At The Races