Desert Crown wins 243rd Epsom Derby as Princess Anne steps in for the Queen

By Ben Morse, CNN

Updated 1634 GMT (0034 HKT) June 4, 2022

Richard Kingscote rides Desert Crown to victory in the Epsom Derby.

Epsom Downs Racecourse, England (CNN)Desert Crown won the 243rd Epsom Derby on Saturday as Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, stepped in for Queen Elizabeth II.

Ridden by Richard Kingscote and trained by five-time Derby winner Sir Michael Stoute, Desert Crown — the pre-race favorite — raced into the lead with two furlongs to go, eventually winning in dominant style. A colorful fireworks display had the thousands of fans in attendance ready for a show, and Desert Crown — owned by Saeed Suhail — demonstrated why it was the favorite to claim the title by speeding to a famous victory. Kingscote later credited Stoute's leadership as a reason for their success. «When I was a kid I was useless and I've had a lot of support from this gentleman (Stoute) here,» he told ITV Racing after the race.Read MorePrincess Anne (left) chats with winning trainer of Desert Crown, Sir Michael Stoute, jockey Richard Kingscote, and owner Saeed Suhail."(Desert Crown has) got a huge amount of class, we turned in going well and was so lovely. I (even) took a tug in the straight, he's got a lot of class and gave me a lot of confidence. But it's all about the man who trained him. He's a lovely horse and he's a lovely gentleman that trains him."Desert Crown finished clear of second-placed Hoo Ya Mal, a 150-1 outsider, with Westover finishing third. For Stoute, it is a sixth Derby victory, 12 years after his last with Workforce in 2010.Princess Anne was making an appearance at Epsom Downs racecourse for the 243rd edition of the famous horse race. The Queen's daughter, who was representing her mother at the event, waved to