(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Frankie Dettori powered home 13-8 favourite Golden Horn to win the Epsom Derby yesterday to crown the Italian riding star's return to the big time after his well documented drugs ban and split with Godolphin.
Dettori, claiming the blue riband for the second time after Authorized in 2007, came from the back of the field to surge into the lead in the closing stages, beating Jack Hobbs (4-1).
The first two were trained by John Gosden, like Dettori also winning his second Derby after Benny The Dip in 1997.
Storm The Stars (14-1), trained by William Haggas finished third.
With a question mark over his mount's stamina 44-year-old Dettori held Golden Horn up as Hans Holbein, trying to claim trainer Aidan O'Brien's fourth straight win in the Epsom classic, led the dozen runners round Tattenham Corner.
William Buick got to work on Jack Hobbs and they briefly took command but Dettori was cruising up the outside, and once in front stayed on stoutly to land the famous spoils, Dettori waving his arm in jubilation.
Dettori, relishing his resurgence after falling out with Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin and a six months ban for cocaine use, said: "The horse was magnficent. He did win it by a long way in the end he flew at the end.
"I couldn't get him going and then he flew. It's a brilliant feeling."
Gosden, only the third trainer to train the first two home in the turf's blue riband race, reflected: "I thought Frankie dropped him out beautifully. He rode a cool race.
"Jack Hobbs has run a blinder and all being well he can go to Ireland (Derby)," added the 64-year-old.
Golden Horn shot to the top of the Derby's ante-post betting when claiming the main Derby prep, the Dante at York.
Owner Anthony Oppenheimer had never regarded his colt as a Derby candidate due to doubts about the mile half and a half trip, and so had to pay a 75,000 pound supplementary fee to add him to the Epsom mix - money well spent as it turned out with his colt now worth tens of millions as a stallion.
"Such a thrill - amazing, I can hardly believe it amazing," said Oppenheimer.
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