1979 Epsom Derby


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The 1979 Epsom Derby was the 200th annual running of the Derby horse race. It took place at Epsom Downs Racecourse on 6 June 1979. With a prize of £153,980 to the winner, the race value was a significant increase on the £98,410 offered the previous year and a record for a race contested in Europe
The winter ante-post market was headed by Tromos who was followed by More Light, Gregorian, Sandy Creek and Troy. However, only the latter named would line up at Epsom. Dewhurst Stakes winner Tromos picked up a virus after finishing runner up in the Craven Stakes, More Light was decisively beaten in both the Heath Stakes and the Dante Stakes, Gregorian was unraced again after beaten 8¾ lengths in the Ballymoss Stakes while Sandy Creek never returned to the racecourse after his juvenile season. On the day of the race, the market was headed by Guy Harwood's Ela-Mana-Mou who had supplemented his juvenile success in the Royal Lodge Stakes by winning the Heath Stakes by four lengths. Next in the market was Troy who had won four of his previous five starts including the Vintage Stakes, Sandown Classic Trial and Predominate Stakes. One of three representatives for Dick Hern, who had been attempting to win the race for twenty years, he was the chosen mount of Willie Carson. Milford and Tap On Wood were the remaining horses in the single digit price range with the former winning his trials at Ascot and Sandown by a combined fifteen lengths, and the latter a surprise 20/1 winner of the 2000 Guineas.
The pace was set by Henry Cecil's Lyphard's Wish and his lead lasted until a furlong and a half from home when passed by the Irish trained Dickens Hill.Dickens Hill's lead would not last long however as Troy, who had struggled for pace early on and was only in thirteenth place at Tattenham Corner, stormed past for an emphatic victory. The winning margin of seven lengths was the widest recorded since Manna in 1925. The race was in danger of being marred as a toilet roll was thrown at the runners by a spectator at Tattenham Corner. Yves Saint-Martin, riding Vincent O'Brien's Accomplice, passed the finishing with the paper still attached to his head although he stated that the incident did not cost him the race.

Race details

Sponsor: noneWinner's prize money: £153,980Going: GoodNumber of runners: 23Winner's time: 2 minutes, 36.59 seconds

Winner details

Further details of the winner, Troy:Foaled: 25 March 1976, in IrelandSire: Petingo; Dam: La Milo Owner: Sir Michael Sobell & Lord WeinstockBreeder: Ballymacoll Stud

Form analysis

Two-year-old races

Notable runs by the future Derby participants as two-year-olds in 1978:
Accomplice - 1st Ashford Castle Stakes, Beresford StakesDickens Hill - 1st Anglesey Stakes, 2nd National StakesEla-Mana-Mou - 2nd Vintage Stakes, 1st Royal Lodge StakesHardgreen - 3rd Mill Reef Stakes, 2nd Horris Hill StakesLake City - 1st Coventry StakesLaska Floko - 4th Futurity Stakes Lyphard's Wish - 1st Solario Stakes, 3rd Royal Lodge Stakes, 3rd Futurity Stakes Man Of Vision - 2nd Acomb StakesMilford - 2nd Houghton Stakes, 2nd Clarence House StakesSaracen Prince - 3rd Vintage StakesSon Of Love - 1st Prix IsonomyTap On Wood - 1st National StakesTroy - 1st Vintage Stakes, 2nd Royal Lodge Stakes

The road to Epsom

Early-season appearances in 1979 and trial races prior to running in the Derby:
Cracaval - 1st - Chester VaseDickens Hill - 2nd Vauxhall Trial Stakes, 1st Ballymoss -Stakes, 1st Irish 2000 Guineas Ela-Mana-Mou - 1st Heath StakesHalyudh - 2nd Lingfield Derby TrialHardgreen - 2nd Dante StakesLake City - 1st 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes, 3rd Dante StakesLaska Floko - 5th Dante StakesLyphard's Wish - 1st Craven Stakes, 5th 2000 Guineas, 1st Dante StakesMan Of Vision - 1st Easter Stakes, 4th Prix LupinMilford - 1st White Rose Stakes, 1st Lingfield Derby TrialNiniski - 2nd Glasgow Stakes Noelino - 1st Nijinsky StakesNorthern Baby - 2nd Prix de Suresnes, 2nd Prix La ForceSon Of Love - 2nd Prix NoaillesTap On Wood - 1st 2000 Guineas StakesTwo Of Diamonds - 2nd Sandown Classic Trial, 1st Dee StakesTroy – 1st Sandown Classic Trial, 1st Predominate Stakes

Subsequent Group 1 wins

Group 1 / Grade I victories after running in the Derby.
Dickens Hill - Eclipse Stakes Ela-Mana-Mou - Eclipse Stakes , King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Lyphard's Wish - United Nations Handicap Niniski - Irish St. Leger , Prix Royal-Oak Northern Baby - Champion Stakes Son Of Love - St Leger Stakes Troy – Irish Derby, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes ,''Benson and Hedges Gold Cup ''

Subsequent breeding careers

Leading progeny of participants in the 1979 Epsom Derby.

Sires of Classic winners


Niniski
Troy
Northern Baby
Ela-Mana-Mou'

Sires of Group/Grade One winners


Lyphard's Wish

Sires of National Hunt horses


Dickens Hill

Other Stallions


Tap On Wood - Royal Touch, Miss Boniface
Milford - Cunizza da Romano, Luck Mugen - Exported to Japan
Halyudh - Mr Boston
Hardgreen - Minor flat and jumps winners
Man Of Vision - Exported to Japan
Lake City - Exported to Venezuela
Laska Floko - Exported to South Africa