City Day

The Dee Stakes

Fact File

• Race distance: 1m 2f 75yds
• Prize money: £65,000 total prize fund
• Conditions: 3-y-o colts and geldings only

The Dee Stakes is one of 10 recognised trial races for the Epsom Derby, and was promoted
to Group 3 status in 2003 having previously been a Listed Race. Recent winners of the Dee
Stakes to be successful in the Derby include Oath and Kris Kin, while the 1990 winner of
the trial, Blue Stag, went on to finish second at Epsom.

Only four runners went to post in 2003, when John Dunlop’s Big Bad Bob was expected to
stamp his Derby credentials and was supported down to 4/9 in the market. However,
nobody had told the Doncaster maiden winner Kris Kin, who amazingly for a Sir Michael
Stoute runner was allowed to start at 20/1 and he quickened past his three rivals to score
by two lengths.

 Kris Kin - 2003 winner

In the build up to Epsom he still wasn’t that well supported but come the day of the race
the money started to come and he was sent off the 6/1 fourth favourite. Under Kieren
Fallon, he hit the front inside the final 100 yards to join Oath as the most recent horses to
complete the Chester/Derby double.

The 2004 winner African Dream wouldn’t have been allowed to run at Epsom as geldings
are not permitted to run in the blue riband event.

There was a thrilling finish to the 2005 renewal as it looked like going to the 33/1 shot
I’m Spartacus, who had run the race of his life. However, Fallon, who was aboard the Aidan
O’Brien runner Gypsy King, refused to be beaten and gave everything he could in the
closing stages, prevailing by the narrowest of margins in the end. He started the 7/2
second favourite at Epsom but was never going to trouble the all out winner Motivator and
he finally came home fifth of the 13 runners.

 Gypsy King - 2005 winner

O’Brien was back in the winners’ enclosure in 2007 making it two wins in the last three
years as Admiralofthefleet produced a very taking performance under Mick Kinane. He
powered away from his five rivals and was value for far more than the official two length
winning margin. He was sent off a not un-fancied contender for the Derby at Epsom the
following month but those that were on at odds at 14/1 were never really in with a shout
as he came home 10th behind the impressive winner Authorized.

Just a head separated the 2008 winner Tajaaweed, trained by Stoute and ridden by Richard
Hills, from runner-up Unnefer as another thrilling conclusion ensued. The 5/1 winner
Tajaweed went on to finish a respectable eighth in the Derby a month later. Two years ago,
William Haggas’ South Easter was a game winner by a head from Gitano Hernando, only
for injury to scupper his hopes of following up at Epsom. Azmeel, last year’s winner for
John Gosden and Frankie Dettori, did make it to Epsom on their next start but came home
10th behind winner Workforce.

 Azmeel - 2010 winner

 Past Winners

• 1999 Oath 3 Kieren Fallon Henry Cecil 2:10.51
• 2000 Merry Merlin 3 Richard Quinn Michael Bell 2:10.00
• 2001 Dr Greenfield 3 Kieren Fallon Gerard Butler 2:09.09
• 2002 Sohaib 3 Richard Hills Barry Hills 2:08.30
• 2003 Kris Kin 3 Fergal Lynch Sir Michael Stoute 2:10.11
• 2004 African Dream 3 Jimmy Quinn Peter Chapple-Hyam2:19.74
• 2005 Gypsy King 3 Kieren Fallon Aidan O'Brien 2:16.47
• 2006 Art Deco 3 Frankie Dettori Charles Egerton 2:16.15
• 2007 Admiralofthefleet 3 Michael Kinane Aidan O'Brien 2:09.82
• 2008 Tajaweed 3 Richard Hills Sir Michael Stoute 2:11.03
• 2009 South Easter 3 Neil Callan William Haggas 2:10.21
• 2010 Azmeel 3 Frankie Dettori John Gosden 2:14.75
• 2011 Glen's Diamond Paul Hanagan Richard Fahey 2.11.24