In what was a truly gripping Epsom spectacle, the impressive 2000 Guineas winner Dawn Approach became virtually uncontrollable for jockey Kevin Manning, even leading the field with at least five furlongs to go before tiring himself out and finishing last.

While Ruler Of The World (7/1) had looked like no better than a second-string for O`Brien and his Coolmore owners on only his third start, he came in for solid support in the betting and the positive ride from jockey Ryan Moore helped him last home a length and a half in front of the main British challenger Libertarian.

It was such a sedate gallop that Moore had made as much headway himself from the rear than perhaps he would have liked, lining up close to Ruler Of The World`s stablemate Battle Of Marengo and O`Brien`s son Joseph, who led when the last of Dawn Approach`s energy ebbed away at the three-pole.

Moore made the decisive move inside the last couple of furlongs and was by now too far ahead of Libertarian, who had been trapped at the rear and did not descend the top of the hill with much conviction.

Battle Of Marengo, shortest in the betting of five O`Brien runners, lost two places close home, surrendering third to Galileo Rock in a photo-finish.

"I suppose the two we thought had the best chances were Battle Of Marengo and Ruler Of The World," said O`Brien, who played down suggestions of a tactical victory for the winner over the favourite.

Ruler Of The World: Winner of the Derby under Ryan Moore (Photo : Sportinglife)

"We always thought the world of Mars and the other horses but those two were at the top of the pecking order.
"We`re just so lucky, we get these incredibly-bred horses and even before they are mated the dream is for this to happen.

"All the jockeys had their own plan and all the horses were doing their own thing and that is just the way it ended up.

"This horse was impressive in the Chester Vase and won like a very good horse."

O`Brien was reluctant to confirm Ruler Of The World for anything in the future, but said: "We`d love to go back to the Curragh (Irish Derby) but he`s still only a baby. We`ll talk it over with everyone."

Manning, who knows Dawn Approach better than anyone having won seven consecutive races aboard the chestnut, was taken aback.

"He was relaxed going down and there was no indication of what he was going to do," he said.

"We broke and then after 100 yards he started, it got competitive, as it does, he just lit up and basically bolted with me.

"I was a passenger and he took me completely by surprise.

"He got a bump but when I say a bump it just got tight, normal racing, and for whatever reason he just lit up and it was all over.

"We were going no pace so I wasn`t going to maul him for a long way which was why I went to the front.

"I tried to get cover, that wasn`t working so we went to the front but the damage was done by that stage.

"It has shocked me because he`s never shown me those signs at home."

Trainer Jim Bolger confirmed this and said: "I doubt he`ll be running over a mile and a half again."

Ruler Of The World ought to be good to have earned such a lofty name and John Magnier, master owner-breeder of Coolmore, said his wife Sue was responsible for the naming.

"They are all rated on pedigree and individually," he said.

"We get updates from Aidan week by week and then we decide.

"Sometimes they get it right, sometimes they don`t. We`ve had a lot of bad American presidents!

"This year has been more difficult than ever with the weather because they didn`t know where they were with the horses, and if you try and find everything out at home, you are not going to win the Derby.

"Aidan thought if one of ours could beat Battle Of Marengo it was the one Ryan was riding. Obviously a lot of people thought so as he shortened up a lot."

Moore said: "It was a dramatic race. They went a very slow gallop early, I had to go back for cover and I could see the favourite hadn`t settled.

"I had no option but to go on when I did, I knew he`d stay the trip very well but I got there a bit soon and he was very green.

"I knew the others were coming because I`d gone too early, but from then on he had to tough it out."

Sky Bet`s Richard Horner said: "Dawn Approach proved too headstrong to run his race and give himself a chance of staying the trip and bookmakers will be pleased with that.

"A Ryan Moore-ridden winner though never goes unbacked and with Libertarian who was a very popular each-way selection on the day staying on for second and a Pricewise big-priced runner in third it certainly wasn`t a skinner by any means."

Courtesy : http://www.sportinglife.com