Epsom Derby 2003 Result

The Epsom Derby in 2003 was all about one of the biggest and sustained gambles in a major race seen in quite a few years. Kris Kin was backed at all prices in the morning of the race. Those you lumped on could only thank one person for collecting and that was the brilliant jockeyship of Kieran Fallon for getting Kris Kin up in the dying strides.

In the end Kris Kin proved strong enough to fend off The Great Gatsby, ridden by Pat Eddery, who had led from the off but faded over the last two furlongs. In a year which was going to see Pat Eddery ride in his last Epsom Derby, it would have been a wonderful climax to his magnificent career if he had got the Great Gatsby to hang on, but in the end he had to settle for second place. One of the pre-race favourite Alamshar also finished strongly to take third place.

"Everything went his way and he travelled well in his race. They went a good gallop and he was able to quicken," Fallon told BBC Sport after the race. "It got a bit tight at the top of the hill as it always does when they cross over. I worried there but I let him find himself and he was OK."

The Great Gatsby made the early running under Eddery, along with Dutch Gold. Refuse To Bend, the 11-4 favourite, was racing in touch with Brian Boru close up on the inside and Kris Kin in mid-division. As the field turned for home Eddery kicked on and had most of the runners in trouble, but Fallon had the move covered and went in pursuit of the leader. His mount answered all his calls to lead inside the final furlong and hold his rivals at bay in a stirring finish to land a massive public gamble. Alamshar threatened briefly a furlong out and was only a short head behind the second, while Norse Dancer had been last at the top of the hill on the Epsom Racecourse and made up an amazing amount of ground to claim fourth place.

Kris Kin and Norse Dancer had been supplemented for the race at a cost of £90,000 on Monday.

Winning trainer Sir Michael Stoute landed his third Derby following the victories of Shergar in 1981 and Shahrastani five years later. It was Fallon's second blue riband after Oath's success in 1999. Stoute said: "It's always a great thrill. You can't win it too many times and 1986 was a long time ago. "We've had a little bit of misfortune over the years since that period so I am delighted that it has come good. "I am delighted for Saeed Suhail (owner) who was tough enough to supplement him. You've got one of the great rides round Epsom on Derby day from Kieren Fallon - and that helped."

Some £20m was gambled on the race, and bookmakers were pleased none of the three market leaders won, but the support for Kris Kin left them with mixed feelings.