June 8 - On Saturday tens of thousands of horseracing fans descended on Epsom Downs racecourse in Surrey, England to watch the ?1,250,000 Epsom Derby (Gr 1), which this year was a nail-biter that saw colt Workforce cross the line first.

Each year the premier 1 mile 4 furlong 10 yard race is contested by a field of top UK three-year-olds (excluding geldings) and this year was no different as 12 stayers lined up at the starting gate, including the Michael Stoute-trained Workforce.

For fans canny enough to back Workforce, the 2010 Epsom Derby will be a race that they are likely to remember for some time to come. Because from the start, Workforce - under top jockey Ryan Moore - snatched the lead and never let it go.

Going into the turf race as a 6/1 shot, Workforce was simply no match for his 11 rivals, most of whom struggled to keep up with the blisteringly fast colt. So it was no surprise to Epsom racegoers when Workforce crossed the line first, 10 lengths clear.

It was an exemplary result all round. For Moore because it was his first Epsom Derby win, and for Stoute because it was his fifth, his first Epsom winner being in 1981 with Shergar. Plus, Workforce broke the race record, winning the race in 2:31.33.

After Workforce, 100/1 long shot At First Sight crossed the line in second who in turn finished in front of 9/2 runner Rewilding, who was ridden by champion jockey, Frankie Dettori. Jan Vermeer, the 9-4 favourite, completed the race in fourth place.

Said an ecstatic Moore after the race, 'It's a special day. Workforce traveled beautifully and quickened very well.' It was a good weekend for the 26-year-old jockey who on Friday won the prestigious Epsom Oaks (Gr 1) for three-year-old fillies.

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2012/04/02 06:42:15 AM