Sir Michael Stoute’s Workforce destroys a high-class field in 2010 demolition job at Epsom
Take a trip down memory lane to remember Workforce's brilliant victory at Epsom nine years ago
WITH the 240th running of the Derby on the horizon, Sun Racing will be digging through the archives and looking back at memorable performances in the Epsom Classic.
First up, we remember the stunning 2010 victory of Sir Michael Stoute's Workforce...
Big race build-up
There were a wide range of contenders to emerge from the various trials for the 2010 Derby.
Bullet Train, a horse who later found fame as Frankel's pacemaker, won the Lingfield Derby Trial, Ted Spread scrambled home to win the Chester Vase and Midas Touch eased to victory in the Derrinstown.
Jan Vermeer also put himself in the reckoning after a win in the Gallinule Stakes, while the high-class Cape Blanco was too streetwise for the inexperienced Workforce in the Dante at York.
Trainer Sir Michael Stoute would usually opt for the cautious approach after a defeat, but he rolled the big dice and gave Workforce the green light for Epsom after a sparkling racecourse gallop at Lingfield.
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And Stoute's decision to head to the race was given a big boost shortly afterwards as antepost punters were hit with a bombshell just four days before the big race.
St Nicholas Abbey, long-time favourite for the Derby, was forced out of the race after picking up a muscle injury.
The task ahead of Workforce was made even more achievable when Ballydoyle decided to tackle the French Derby with Cape Blanco.
On the morning of the big race, the Epsom Downs were bathed in early June sunshine and the going was Good to Firm.
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Derby demolition
Aidan O'Brien saddled three in the Derby including 100-1 rag At First Sight.
He was in the race to ensure a good gallop for Jan Vermeer (9-4f) and Midas Touch (6-1), and Ryan Moore was happy to bury Workforce (6-1) away in the midfield.
As the field swung around Tattenham Corner, Seamie Heffernan made an audacious bid for glory aboard At First Sight.
The colt opened up by seven to eight lengths and caught the majority of the 12-runner line-up on the hop.
But the one horse to sprout wings and emerge from the pack was Workforce, who floated around the bottom bend like he was on rails before eating into the runaway leader's advantage on the bridle.
He swept into the lead a furlong and a half from home and the race was over in an instant as the son of King's Best engaged top gear.
There was no sign of the hanging or inexperience that had cost him at York as he ran straight as a gun barrel along Epsom's camber to win by seven lengths in a jaw-dropping record time of 2:31.33.
At First Sight managed to cling on for second from the ill-fated Rewilding (9-2), but Workforce's backside was a mere speck in the distance.
Aftermath
Workforce's victory gave legendary trainer Stoute his fifth win in the Derby and top jockey Moore his first.
The colt was sent to Ascot on his next outing the tackle his elders in the King George, but his previous tendency to hang came to the surface again as he was put in his place by the brilliant Harbinger.
He got back on track in sensational style when breaking Japanese hearts in the 2010 Arc, edging out Nakayama Festa under a brilliant Moore ride.
He went on to finish second in both the 2011 Eclipse and King George, where he hung right across the track when second to Nathaniel, and he is currently standing at Knockhouse Stud in Ireland after several seasons doing the deed in Japan.
