Hurricane has sting in the tail for Scorpion
In a contest which was marred by tragedy, Ballydoyle’s Gyspy King broke his shoulder after a couple of furlongs, there was compensation for his connections, who recently bought the Andre Fabre-trained son of Montjeu. Gypsy King unseated Seamus Heffernan and had to be put down.
Hurricane Run was purchased by Coolmore and Michael Tabor and was leased back to his German owners, and the decision to put Kieren Fallon on board was an inspired one.
This was a race he had never previously won, but he got it spot-on here to master Scorpion by half a length.
Said Fallon: “He doesn’t do a lot in front. But he was never in danger, I gave him a flick and he went on. He will improve a lot for this.
“He is a horse you need to know, I had never ridden him until today. I went round the outside and he was still good enough to pick them up.
“I was on the best horse in the race and didn’t think it would matter going on the outside. He is very much like his sire, Montjeu, and could turn out just like him. It is a dream come true to win the Irish Derby.”
Colm O’Donoghue went for glory early in the straight on Scorpion, making a brave attempt to win his first classic. The 24-year-old Corkman had finished third in the last two runnings of the race, on Roosevelt and Tycoon respectively. But it wasn’t to be and Hurricane Run soon swept through to challenge, after Fallon had given him plenty time to hit top gear.
It was well inside the final furlong before Hurricane Run got on top and, despite a tendency to weave about a bit, was always holding the call.
Shalapour ran a brave race to fill third in front of Brahminy Kite and Bahar Shumaal.
Walk In The Park was a major disappointment. He was drawn widest of all and never settled at any stage. He pulled much too hard for his own good and was beaten before the straight, trailing home last.
He was examined by the vet, at the request of the stewards, and found to have a respiratory tract infection.
Jockey, Alan Munro, remarked: “He ran too free. We didn’t get much cover on the outside and there was no pace.”
Fabre, 18-times French champion trainer, was winning his second Irish Derby, the first coming with Winged Love ten years earlier.
Said Fabre: “There are always anxious moments in a Derby. The horse ran green and was looking at everything.
“The plan now is to save him for an autumn campaign. It will probably be the ‘Arc with one run before that.
“It means a lot to come to such a nice course like the Curragh and win a Derby in the country of the thoroughbred.
“I think there is still improvement to come, as he was immature today. You never win a Derby easily, but I wasn’t too worried and felt he had everything to pass Scorpion.”
Commented O’Donoghue: “So near and yet so far. He did everything right and is a horse with a great future.
“He travelled super and ran right to the line. He has loads of class and loads of scope.
“I thought I would win when I went on, but then the winner came to us.”
Shalapour, stepping way up in class, did John Oxx and Fran Berry proud, staying on stoutly all the way to the line.
Oxx, of course, had previously won Ireland’s premier flat race with brilliant colts in Sinndar and Alamshar.
Said Oxx: “He’s an improving horse and Michael (Kinane) felt he would be in the first four. We might look at the St Leger for him now.”
Helvetio may have only finished sixth, but Pat Smullen was quite pleased. Said Smullen: “That’s the best race he has run and it was a big performance.”
The attendance yesterday was a modern-day record, 31,144.
