2005 Epsom Derby
The 2005 Epsom Derby was a horse race which took place at Epsom Downs on Saturday June 4, 2005. It was the 226th running of the Derby, and it was won by the pre-race favourite Motivator. The winner was ridden by Johnny Murtagh and trained by Michael Bell.
Race details
- Sponsor: Vodafone
- Winner's prize money: £725,000
- Going: Good
- Number of runners: 13
- Winner's time: 2m 35.69s
Full result
| * | Horse | Jockey | Trainer † | SP | |
| 1 | Motivator | Johnny Murtagh | Michael Bell | 3/1 fav | |
| 2 | 5 | Walk in the Park | Alan Munro | John Hammond (FR) | 11/1 |
| 3 | 3 | Dubawi | Frankie Dettori | Saeed bin Suroor | 5/1 |
| 4 | 1 | Fracas | Jamie Spencer | David Wachman (IRE) | 8/1 |
| 5 | 1½ | Gypsy King | Kieren Fallon | Aidan O'Brien (IRE) | 7/2 |
| 6 | 3 | Hattan | Seb Sanders | Clive Brittain | 25/1 |
| 7 | hd | Unfurled | Ryan Moore | John Dunlop | 40/1 |
| 8 | 1¾ | The Geezer | Richard Quinn | David Elsworth | 10/1 |
| 9 | 2 | Grand Central | Jimmy Fortune | Aidan O'Brien (IRE) | 25/1 |
| 10 | 8 | Oratorio | Michael Kinane | Aidan O'Brien (IRE) | 8/1 |
| 11 | 2 | Kings Quay | Dane O'Neill | Richard Hannon, Sr. | 150/1 |
| 12 | ¾ | Almighty | Pat Smullen | Aidan O'Brien (IRE) | 66/1 |
| 13 | 14 | Kong | Richard Hughes | John Dunlop | 20/1 |
* The distances between the horses are shown in lengths or shorter. hd = head.
† Trainers are based in Great Britain unless indicated.
Winner's details
Further details of the winner, Motivator:
- Foaled: February 22, 2002 in Great Britain
- Sire: Montjeu; Dam: Out West (Gone West)
- Owner: The Royal Ascot Racing Club
- Breeder: Deerfield Farm
- Rating in 2005 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings: 125
Form analysis
Two-year-old races
Notable runs by the future Derby participants as two-year-olds in 2004.
- Motivator – 1st Racing Post Trophy
- Walk in the Park – 3rd Critérium International
- Dubawi – 1st Superlative Stakes, 1st National Stakes
- Oratorio – 7th Coventry Stakes, 1st Anglesey Stakes, 2nd Phoenix Stakes, 1st Futurity Stakes, 1st Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère, 2nd Dewhurst Stakes
- Kings Quay – 12th Coventry Stakes, 1st Washington Singer Stakes, 6th Somerville Tattersall Stakes
The road to Epsom
Early-season appearances in 2005 and trial races prior to running in the Derby.
- Motivator – 1st Dante Stakes
- Walk in the Park – 2nd Lingfield Derby Trial
- Dubawi – 5th 2,000 Guineas, 1st Irish 2,000 Guineas
- Fracas – 1st Sandown Classic Trial, 1st Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial
- Gypsy King – 1st Dee Stakes
- Hattan – 3rd Sandown Classic Trial, 1st Chester Vase
- Unfurled – 1st Predominate Stakes
- The Geezer – 2nd Dante Stakes
- Grand Central – 2nd Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes, 3rd Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial
- Oratorio – 4th 2,000 Guineas, 2nd Irish 2,000 Guineas
- Kings Quay – 5th Easter Stakes, 2nd Feilden Stakes, 6th Sandown Classic Trial, 6th Lingfield Derby Trial
- Almighty – 4th Ballysax Stakes, 2nd Chester Vase
- Kong – 1st Lingfield Derby Trial
Subsequent Group 1 wins
Group 1 / Grade I victories after running in the Derby.
- Dubawi – Prix Jacques Le Marois (2005)
- Oratorio – Eclipse Stakes (2005), Irish Champion Stakes (2005)