| 2021 Epsom Derby | |
| Horse Race: | Epsom Derby |
| Location: | Epsom Downs Racecourse |
| Date: | 5 June 2021 |
| Winning Horse: | Adayar |
| Starting Price: | 16/1 |
| Winning Jockey: | Adam Kirby |
| Winning Trainer: | Charlie Appleby |
| Winning Owner: | Godolphin |
| Conditions: | Good to Soft |
| Previous: | 2020 |
| Next: | 2022 |
|}
| Also RanThe 2021 Epsom Derby was the 242nd annual running of the Derby horse race and took place at Epsom Downs Racecourse on 5 June 2021. The race was sponsored for the first time by the online car-dealer Cazoo.[1] The winner was Godolphin's bay colt Adayar, ridden by Adam Kirby and trained at Newmarket by Charlie Appleby. Godolphin and Appleby were winning the race for the second time, having taken the prize with Masar in 2018.[2] Build-upAttendance was limited to 4,000 owing to government restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The race took place after a period of hot, dry weather and the course officials resorted to watering the course to avoid unsuitably firm ground.[3] The race attracted 19 entrants at the five-day declaration stage, including three previous Group 1 winners, namely Mac Swiney, Van Gogh and Gear Up. The other contenders included Bolshoi Ballet (Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial), Hurricane Lane (Dante Stakes), Youth Sprit (Chester Vase), Third Realm (Lingfield Derby Trial), Lone Eagle (Cocked Hat Stakes), High Definistion (Beresford Stakes), One Ruler (Autumn Stakes), John Leeper (Fairway Stakes) and Mohaafeth (Newmarket Stakes). There were ten entries from Ireland (six trained by Aidan O'Brien), nine from the United Kingdom (three trained by Charlie Appleby and none from continental Europe. The prospective field included five of the top six colts rated in the 8f+ category of the official classification of European two-year-olds for 2020, namely Mac Swiney, High Definition, Van Gogh, One Ruler and Gear Up.[4] On Wednesday 2 June Aidan O'Brien announced that Bolshoi Ballet would probably be his only runner in the race and that his five other entries, including the second favourite High Definition, would be directed to alternative targets.[5] As O'Brien suggested High Definition, Kyprios, Sir Lamorak, The Mediterranean and Van Gogh were withdrawn from the race on 3 June. The other absentees from the final field of 12 were Lone Eagle and Seattle Sound.[6] On the day of the race Mohaafeth was announced as a non-runner on account of the unsuitable ground conditions. Race card
Full result
Form analysisTwo-year-old racesNotable runs by the future Derby participants as two-year-olds in 2020
Road to EpsomEarly-season appearances in 2021 and trial races prior to running in the Derby:
Subsequent Group 1 winsGroup 1 / Grade I victories after running in the Derby:
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