 Blue Riband Winner
On 5th June, 1999, almost 20 years to the day since Troy's historic
200th Derby win, his grandson Oath lined up for the 220th running. A half brother to
Italian champion Pelder, Oath had won the Dee Stakes at Chester
by a very easy five lengths on his last start. However that did not guarantee him
favouritism: the Dee Stakes had once been a very good Blue Riband trial, but for the last
few decades it had not produced a winner of the Derby and had been demoted from Group 3 to
Listed status as a result.
However, the manner of Oath's victory certainly suggested that he would stay the Derby
trip and improve upon the run. After the Derby preamble, where Oath got a little on his
toes and was sent down before the parade had finished, a manoeuvre for which his jockey
was later fined £1000, the horses were loaded up and the 220th running of the Derby
commenced.
It was after those two and a half minutes of nailbiting suspense that Oath confirmed
himself as one of the best middle-distance three year olds in Europe, showing a great turn
of foot to come with a devastating run to take the race, jsut as his grandsire had done
twenty years before him. Although the distance of victory was not as comprehensive as
Troy's seven lengths, the mere one and three quarter lengths of Oath's victory did not
really do him justice as he was being eased at the end of the race.
Although Oath did not in the end take his chances against the impresive Montjeu in the
Irish Derby (a poor gallop four days before the big race putting paid to that) It remains
to be seen just how good Oath is, but he now attempts to emulate Troy in the the King
George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, where he is up against the older horses for
the first time.
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