Motivator a real chip off the old block

Racing/ Epsom report: Motivator has emerged mostly unscathed from his exhilarating Vodafone Derby triumph, and if a slightly sore foot prevented any extra spring in his step yesterday it might just have been a different story in a different stable down in Co Tipperary.

Montjeu, the sire of the latest Epsom hero, and as good a racehorse as most of us have seen in the last 20 years, has always had more than enough swagger to spare.

When he retired from the track to Coolmore it seemed unlikely he could make a similar sort of impression as a stallion. After all, one of the mantras in the breeding game is a great stallion is capable of breeding one even better than himself. Better than Montjeu means truly great and nothing else.

But a first crop of three-year-olds have taken the game not so much by storm as by full blown typhoon. As if winning Saturday's Derby weren't enough, Montjeu also sired the runner-up, Walk In The Park, and in Motivator we have an unbeaten colt that might yet get to look his Dad eye to eye and feel no need to blink.

The Michael Bell-trained colt really did look that good.

Those of us who figured his handsome head might reach for the sky when put under pressure never even got a chance to be ridiculed. There was no need for pressure. Five sauntering lengths separated Motivator from Walk In The Park at the line, with Dubawi back in third.

Fracas did best of the Irish hopes in fourth, while Gypsy King, who challenged the winner for favouritism, didn't handle the track too well and faded to a distant fifth.

If John Magnier was disappointed, no doubt he could visit Montjeu yesterday and dream of what's to come.

The only bad step Motivator took throughout Saturday was the one that separated him from his off-fore shoe as he was all but mobbed in the winners' enclosure by many of the 230 members of the Royal Ascot Racing Club syndicate which own him.

Pre-race concerns about his temperament proved unfounded. John Murtagh, who only knew for sure he was riding the horse just three days before, used the experience of his previous wins on Sinndar (2000) and High Chaparral (2002) to good effect. It all combined in a performance that was as dominant as has been seen on the famous track in a long time.

"He is a very, very high-class horse," reported the Irish jockey. "This Derby was easier than the others, and the way he pulled up I think there is a lot more to come."

An immediate reaction from Bell, who was winning his first classic but who has handled his highly strung superstar with real flair, was to target Motivator next at the Budweiser Irish Derby. However, he stepped back a little from that yesterday.

"There are two possible stops next: either the Eclipse or the Irish Derby. Nothing is set in stone and I will speak to the owners before a decision is made," said Bell.

"He is slightly sore in his off-fore but basically he is fine. His trainer has been better!"

The Eclipse, over a mile and a quarter, would mean an early encounter with older horses, while the Curragh option means he stays within his generation. There weren't many who finished behind Motivator on Saturday who appear keen to taste the experience again.

Walk In The Park, though, provided John Hammond with a memorable first Epsom Derby, and his jockey, Alan Munro, was impressed.

"He is a terrific horse with lots of ability. He will be winning Group Ones no problem. He's a class act," Munro said.

Dubawi clearly failed to stay and will be dropped back to a mile at York for the St James's Palace Stakes.

Motivator, however, has given the clear impression he could race on a sheet of ice and look good. His father would only approve.

EPSOM DERBY

4.20 - (1m 4f 10yds £725,000) MOTIVATOR (b c Montjeu (IRE) - Out West (USA)) J Murtagh 3/1 fav 1; Walk In The Park A Munro 11/1 2; Dubawi L Dettori 5/1 3. 13 ran. 5l, 3l. (M Bell). Tote: £4.20; £1.50, £3.00, £2.50. Exacta: £53.90. CSF: £35.01. Tricast: £165.09. Non-runner: First Row. No 3 First Row (100/1) was withdrawn not under orders. Rule 4 does not apply. Tote Trifecta: £455.40.

* La Persiana, sent off favourite for the Premio Paolo Mezzanotte in Milan yesterday, was beaten half a length into second place by Vigata in the Group Three contest.

Outsider Vigata put in a strong burst from the rear in the final two furlongs to peg back the William Jarvis trained runner-up, on whom Alan Munro had dictated a modest pace.