Enforcer lays down law
Enforcer came with a terrific run in the final furlong to land the opener on Vodafone Derby day at Epsom this afternoon.
Evolution Ex, owned by Real Madrid and England striker Michael Owen, looked like winning the Vodafone Live! Stakes Heritage Handicap when he swept into the lead furlongs two out, but he was swallowed up in the closing stages
Martin Dwyer had to weave Enforcer through the field to make his challenge and got close to Kerashan before taking up the running. The stewards called an inquiry.
The William Muir-trained Enforcer (5-1) won by two lengths from Kerashan, with Hallhoo three-quarters of a lengths away third and Evolution Ex only fourth.
"I was following Ted Durcan on the grey horse (Hallhoo) and when I went to make a move his horse fell out a bit. I had to move to the right and just gave Mick (Kinane) a little bump.
“It was unintentional, it was accidental,” Dwyer told BBC Sport. “I was never anxious. I knew he would improve over this step up in distance. He’s a late finisher. It was just a question of getting a split. I got a run round the inside and he took me through.”
The stewards left the placings unaltered, but gave Dwyer a two-day ban for careless riding.
Muir added: “I just said to Martin go out there. He could change his mind. When he rode him at Newbury he sat second.
“Martin said they were going so fast he sat and let him build into it. He’s got one hell of a turn of foot. He might go to Royal Ascot at York unless the ground is rock hard. He got beaten at York last year on very fast ground.
“There are only two races for him – the Britannia back over a mile or the Listed race over a mile and a quarter.”
Of the incident involving Enforcer, Kerashan's rider Kinane said: "I was coming with a nice run at the time. The winner has knocked him about. He's recovered and ran on to be second."
BA Foxtrot (4-1) turned the Vodafone Woodcote Stakes into a procession as he came home in splendid isolation from King Malachi.
The Mick Channon-trained juvenile raced in the front rank from the off and stretched gradually clear from two out before coming home six lengths to the good under Chris Catlin.
Green Pride was a further short head back in third.
"There are so many people in here!'' said a smiling Channon in the winner's enclosure, referring to owners the Highlife Racing Club syndicate, who work for British Airways. He’s been a professional from day one. He handled the track, as I thought he would.
“We’ll have to look at Royal Ascot at York. He can go five or six, so I’m obviously thrilled.”
