KINGSTON, Jamaica – Some Derby facts and figures after King Arthur’s triumph in the 100th running of the historic blue riband event to include the 2020 Classic series of five races.
1 – King Arthur provided owner Carlton Watson with his first Derby victory. Watson’s best effort before King Arthur came in 2013 when Royal Vibes finished third.
2 – King Arthur provided jockey Phillip Parchment with his first win in the Derby.
3 – King Arthur was the seventh Derby victory for trainer Wayne DaCosta. DaCosta first won the Derby in 1984 with the filly Thornbird. The Triple Crown which includes the Derby was achieved in 1996 by War Zone. Then in 1999, DaCosta scored with another filly Good Prospect, in 2013 with Perfect Neighbour, with Seeking My Dream obliging in 2015. Another filly this time the immortal She’s A Maneater was DaCosta’s sixth in 2017.
4 – For long serving YS 1955 Limited stallion Natural Selection it was his third progeny to win the Derby. King Arthur is bred by Natural Selection – Geisha’s Art. The other two Natural Selection offspring to win the Derby are She’s A Maneater (Natural Selection – Ahwhofah) and Perfect Neighbour (Natural Selection – Desperatehousewife).
5 – As for the five three-year-old Classic races run in 2020 only the now retired filly Above and Beyond was able to win two of these races. Above and Beyond won the 1000 Guineas and the Jamaica Oaks – both races confined to fillies only. Wow Wow won the 2000 Guineas and Nipster the St Leger and now King Arthur the Derby.
6 – Trainers Gary Subratie and Anthony Nunes won two each of the five Classic races in 2020. Nunes won the 1000 Guineas and the Oaks with Above and Beyond and Subratie won the 2000 Guineas with Wow Wow and the St Leger with Nipster.
