10 iconic Irish Derby Moments
The Irish Derby has been held every year since it was established in 1962. It has produced some iconic moments in its 149-year history. The Minstrel, Grey Swallow, High Chaparral, Australia and Camelot are among them.
Orby was the first horse to complete the Epsom-Curragh Derby double. He was owned by Richard Croker, a New York politician who emigrated to Ireland during the Great Famine.
Nijinsky won the Irish Derby in 1970. He was the first horse in 35 years to win the Triple Crown of the 2,000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger. He won 11 successive St. Legers after that.
Grundy won the Irish 2,000 Guineas in 1975. It was the first of four wins in the Curragh for the great Pat Eddery. GrundY also won Ascot's King George in 1981.
Shergar won the 1981 Irish Derby. He was kidnapped in 1983 from Ballymany Stud in Co Kildare. He won a record 10-length victory at Epsom. His next visit to Ireland didn't end well.
El Gran Senor won the 1984 Irish Derby. He had been beaten by Secreto in Epsom. Mícheál O'Hehir congratulated him on Rainbow Quest. Hehira was trained by the trainer's son David.
Salsabil and Balanchine are the only fillies to win the Classic since 1900. John Dunlop's Salsab won the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks in 1990 and 1994. Balancine won both the Guines and the Oaks and also the Irish Derby.
St Jovite beat Dr Devious 12 lengths in the 1992 Irish Derby. St Jovi was trained by Jim Bolger. Dr devious won the Irish Champion Stakes. DrDevious misjudged the winning post in an earlier Irish Classic.
Montjeu is the fourth horse to do the French and Irish Derby double. Montjue won the 1999 race at Chantilly. He was trained by John Hammond and ridden by Texan Cash Asmussen. As a four-year-old Montjeu won a King George.
Sinndar won the 2000 Irish Derby by nine lengths. King's Best had to settle for second place. Sinndr had just ended a 16-year drought for Irish horses at Epsom. He enjoyed a famous Arc win in the autumn.
Galileo won the 2001 Irish Derby at the Curragh. He has since fathered four Irish Derbies winners and a fifth. His sire Sadler's Wells is the world's most dominant stallion.
