Derby hero Desert Crown loses out to Hukum on his return on blockbuster card at Sandown
HUK me – this wasn’t in the script.
In the battle of the returning stars it was Hukum, not Desert Crown, who came out on top at Sandown.
PAHukum swooped late to beat Derby winner Desert Crown on his return[/caption]
Both horses were winners at the top-level at Epsom just under a year ago… but neither of them had been seen since.
Expectations heading into the Brigadier Gerard Stakes were that the Derby hero Desert Crown would win easily before having his sights raised at Royal Ascot.
His 2-5 starting price showed there was plenty of confidence behind him, and for 90 per cent of the race it looked well placed.
The four-year-old cruised up on the outside of the classy field under Richard Kingscote, but he found it hard work to get past the vastly-inferior Cash.
OFFERS OF THE DAY
Bet UK: Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets and Bonuses – CLAIM HERE
William Hill: Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets (MOBILE ONLY)* – CLAIM HERE
Betfair: Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets – CLAIM HERE
Paddy Power: Bet £20 and get it back as Cash if it Loses – CLAIM HERE
Sky Bet: Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Horse Racing Bets – CLAIM HERE
Bet UK: New customers only. 7 days to deposit and stake £10 minimum bet at odds of 1.5 or greater to qualify. Max 3x £10 free bets credited on bet settlement. Free bets must be used on 4 or more selections with selection odds of 1.3 or greater. Free bets non-withdrawable and stake not returned with winnings. 7 day expiry. 18+ BeGambleAware.org.
William Hill – 18+. Pla18+. Play Safe. When you sign-up via Mobile using promo code N40 and place a bet of £10/€10 or more we will give you 4x £10/€10 free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. begambleaware.org
Betfair – New Customer offer. Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly 18+ begambleaware.org
Paddy Power: New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any sportsbook market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using Cards or Apple Pay will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. Paddy’s Rewards Club: Get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. T&Cs apply. 18+ Begambleaware.org
Sky Bet: 18+NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. FIRST SINGLE & E/W BET ONLY ODDS OF 1/1 OR GREATER. 3 X £10 BET TOKENS. FREE BET STAKES NOT INCLUDED IN RETURNS. FREE BETS ONLY REDEEMABLE ON HORSE RACING. FREE BETS ARE NON WITHDRAWABLE. NO FREE BET EXPIRY. ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS AND FURTHER T&CS APPLY. 18+ Begambleaware.org
He started to get the wobbles with the line in sight and it left the door open for Hukum, who didn’t need a second invitation to barge through and nick it close home.
Desert Crown was still blowing several minutes after the race and will surely improve for the run.
That, too, was the opinion of his legendary trainer Sir Michael Stoute, who still has an eye on the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes next month for which he was unchanged at 5-1.
This was no fluke, though, and the victorious Owen Burrows was understandably chuffed to claim a big scalp with his stablestar, who will have plenty of big targets of his own.
He said: “He looks as though he has developed a bit more speed this year which is very exciting.
“We gave him a couple of proper gallops last week because he was so well I didn’t want him to be too fresh coming here.
“We were only a pound below Desert Crown on ratings but he was an unexposed Derby winner so it’s a big effort from our horse to come back and beat him.”
Earlier on the card, Elite Status won by the length of Esher high street in the National Stakes.
Trainer Karl Burke reckons the two-year-old could be a “superstar” and Coral make him the 5-2 favourite for next month’s Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Burke grinned: “He is an incredibly exciting horse and I would like to think he can go to the very top.”
FREE BETS GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
Never chases their losses
Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
