Nations Pride scores Saratoga Derby win

Charlie Appleby's Nations Pride avenged his defeat by Classic Causeway at Belmont last month by winning the Saratoga Derby in fine style as the 21-10 favourite (15-8F) industry price.

A fast-finishing second under Frankie Dettori from a wide draw in the Belmont Derby, this time William Buick was able to sit much closer to the pace from stall four.

The choice of Appleby’s three runners in the Derby at Epsom where he could only finish eighth, the drop in trip to an extended nine furlongs appeared to really suit on this occasion.

"We were confident coming into this that Nations Pride had done very well since the Belmont Derby. The team have done a fantastic job and he looks to have come on physically since his last run," Appleby told www.godolphin.com.

"The key was trying to get him to jump quicker from the gates because he was slow into his stride at Belmont. He was a little bit sluggish still but William gave him a great ride – he got down on the fence and thankfully the pace held up on the front end as well. It’s great for the team here.

"Nations Pride won at Meydan, so we knew that a nice, slick track suits him. He won on quick going at Newmarket and then he didn’t stay on slower ground in the Derby at Epsom Downs.

"It was always our target to come out here with him – he is a good moving son of Teofilo and we were confident that he would adapt to the style of racing."

Aidan O’Brien’s Stone Age was fifth while the former Mark and Charlie Johnston-trained Royal Patronage, now with Graham Motion, was sixth.