The 2005 Epsom Derby was a horse race which took place at Epsom Downs on Saturday June 4, 2005. It was the 226th running of the Derby, and it was won by the pre-race favourite Motivator. The winner was ridden by Johnny Murtagh and trained by Michael Bell.
Sponsor: Vodafone
Winner's prize money: £725,000
Going: Good
Number of runners: 13
Winner's time: 2m 35.69s
* The distances between the horses are shown in lengths or shorter. hd = head.
† Trainers are based in Great Britain unless indicated.
Further details of the winner, Motivator:
Foaled: February 22, 2002 in Great Britain
Sire: Montjeu; Dam: Out West (Gone West)
Owner: The Royal Ascot Racing Club
Breeder: Deerfield Farm
Rating in 2005 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings: 125
Notable runs by the future Derby participants as two-year-olds in 2004.
Motivator – 1st Racing Post Trophy
Walk in the Park – 3rd Critérium International
Dubawi – 1st Superlative Stakes, 1st National Stakes
Oratorio – 7th Coventry Stakes, 1st Anglesey Stakes, 2nd Phoenix Stakes, 1st Futurity Stakes, 1st Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère, 2nd Dewhurst Stakes
Kings Quay – 12th Coventry Stakes, 1st Washington Singer Stakes, 6th Somerville Tattersall Stakes
Early-season appearances in 2005 and trial races prior to running in the Derby.
Motivator – 1st Dante Stakes
Walk in the Park – 2nd Lingfield Derby Trial
Dubawi – 5th 2,000 Guineas, 1st Irish 2,000 Guineas
Fracas – 1st Sandown Classic Trial, 1st Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial
Gypsy King – 1st Dee Stakes
Hattan – 3rd Sandown Classic Trial, 1st Chester Vase
Unfurled – 1st Predominate Stakes
The Geezer – 2nd Dante Stakes
Grand Central – 2nd Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes, 3rd Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial
Oratorio – 4th 2,000 Guineas, 2nd Irish 2,000 Guineas
Kings Quay – 5th Easter Stakes, 2nd Feilden Stakes, 6th Sandown Classic Trial, 6th Lingfield Derby Trial
Almighty – 4th Ballysax Stakes, 2nd Chester Vase
Kong – 1st Lingfield Derby Trial
Group 1 / Grade I victories after running in the Derby.
Dubawi – Prix Jacques Le Marois (2005)
Oratorio – Eclipse Stakes (2005), Irish Champion Stakes (2005)
