1996 Epsom Derby
# 1996 Epsom Derby

The 1996 Epsom Derby was a horse race which took place at Epsom Downs on Saturday 8 June 1996. It was the 217th running of the Derby, and it was won by Shaamit. The winner was ridden by Michael Hills and trained by William Haggas. The pre-race favourite Dushyantor finished second.

## Race details

* Sponsor: Vodafone
* Winner's prize money: £523,100
* Going: Good (Good to Firm in places)
* Number of runners: 20
* Winner's time: 2m 35.05s

## Full result

| | * | Horse | Jockey | Trainer $^†$ | SP |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | | Shaamit | Michael Hills | William Haggas | 12/1 |
| 2 | 1¼ | Dushyantor | Pat Eddery | Henry Cecil | 9/2 fav |
| 3 | 1¼ | Shantou | Frankie Dettori | John Gosden | 25/1 |
| 4 | 1 | Glory of Dancer | Olivier Peslier | Paul Kelleway | 6/1 |
| 5 | hd | Alhaarth | Willie Carson | Dick Hern | 15/2 |
| 6 | 1¼ | Mystic Knight | Kevin Darley | Roger Charlton | 14/1 |
| 7 | 1 | Jack Jennings | John Reid | Bryan McMahon | 25/1 |
| 8 | 1¼ | Acharne | Warren O'Connor | Clive Brittain | 200/1 |
| 9 | 1¾ | Chief Contender | David Harrison | Peter Chapple-Hyam | 15/1 |
| 10 | ½ | Double Leaf | Johnny Murtagh | Michael Stoute | 16/1 |
| 11 | nk | Classic Eagle | Allan Mackay | Roger Harris | 200/1 |
| 12 | shd | Tasdid | Willie Supple | Kevin Prendergast (IRE) | 200/1 |
| 13 | hd | Even Top | Philip Robinson | Mark Tompkins | 11/2 |
| 14 | 6 | Spartan Heartbeat | Mark Birch | Clive Brittain | 200/1 |
| 15 | 1½ | Storm Trooper | Michael Kinane | Henry Cecil | 15/2 |
| 16 | 1¾ | Zaforum | Dane O'Neill | Les Montague Hall | 150/1 |
| 17 | 1 | St Mawes | Richard Quinn | John Dunlop | 20/1 |
| 18 | 5 | Busy Flight | Cash Asmussen | Barry Hills | 25/1 |
| 19 | 7 | Prince of My Heart | Brent Thomson | Barry Hills | 100/1 |
| 20 | 3 | Portuguese Lil (filly) | Alex Greaves | David Nicholls | 500/1 |

* The distances between the horses are shown in lengths or shorter. shd = short-head; hd = head; nk = neck. † Trainers are based in Great Britain unless indicated.

## Winner's details

Further details of the winner, Shaamit:

* Foaled: 11 February 1993, in Ireland
* Sire: Mtoto; Dam: Shomoose (Habitat)
* Owner: Khalifa Dasmal
* Breeder: Khalifa Dasmal
* Rating in 1996 International Classifications: 124

## Form analysis

### Two-year-old races

Notable runs by the future Derby participants as two-year-olds in 1995.

* Glory of Dancer – 1st Gran Criterium
* Alhaarth – 1st Vintage Stakes, 1st Solario Stakes, 1st Champagne Stakes, 1st Dewhurst Stakes
* Jack Jennings – 6th Washington Singer Stakes, 3rd Royal Lodge Stakes
* Acharne – 6th Royal Lodge Stakes
* Even Top – 1st Somerville Tattersall Stakes, 2nd Racing Post Trophy
* Storm Trooper – 2nd Autumn Stakes
* Zaforum – 4th Zetland Stakes, 8th Prix Isonomy
* Busy Flight – 2nd Haynes, Hanson and Clark Stakes, 2nd Horris Hill Stakes
* Prince of My Heart – 6th Silver Tankard Stakes

### The road to Epsom

Early-season appearances in 1996 and trial races prior to running in the Derby.

* Dushyantor – 2nd Dante Stakes
* Glory of Dancer – 2nd Sandown Classic Trial, 1st Dante Stakes
* Alhaarth – 2nd Craven Stakes, 4th 2,000 Guineas
* Mystic Knight – 1st Lingfield Derby Trial
* Jack Jennings – 3rd Feilden Stakes, 3rd Dante Stakes
* Acharne – 5th Premio Parioli, 6th Lingfield Derby Trial
* Double Leaf – 4th Sandown Classic Trial, 5th Dante Stakes
* Classic Eagle – 7th Thirsk Classic Trial, 6th Chester Vase
* Tasdid – 3rd Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes, 4th Amethyst Stakes
* Even Top – 2nd 2,000 Guineas
* Storm Trooper – 1st Feilden Stakes, 11th 2,000 Guineas, 6th Dante Stakes
* Zaforum – 3rd Lingfield Derby Trial
* St Mawes – 2nd Feilden Stakes, 2nd Chester Vase, 3rd Predominate Stakes
* Busy Flight – 6th Sandown Classic Trial
* Prince of My Heart – 3rd Chester Vase
* Portuguese Lil – 10th 1,000 Guineas

### Subsequent Group 1 wins

Group 1 / Grade I victories after running in the Derby.

* Shantou – St. Leger (1996), Gran Premio del Jockey Club (1996), Gran Premio di Milano (1997)
* Chief Contender – Prix du Cadran (1997)
* Storm Trooper – Hollywood Invitational Turf Handicap (1998)

## Subsequent breeding careers

Leading progeny of participants in the 1996 Epsom Derby.

### Sires of Classic winners

Alhaarth (5th)

* Haafhd - 1st 2000 Guineas Stakes (2004)
* Phoenix Reach - 1st Hong Kong Vase (2004)
* Bandari - 3rd St Leger Stakes (2002)
* Iktitaf - 1st Morgiana Hurdle (2006)

Shaamit (1st)

* Bollin Eric - 1st St Leger Stakes (2002)

### Sires of Group/Grade One winners

Even Top (13th)

* Cirrus des Aigles - Champion Older Horse (2011)

### Sires of National Hunt horses

Shantou (3rd)

* The Storyteller - 1st Champion Novice Chase (2018)
* Ballynagour - 1st Prix la Barka (2015)
* Beware The Bear - 1st Festival Trophy Handicap Chase (2019)
* Bun Doran - 1st Desert Orchid Chase (2019)

Dushyantor (2nd) - also shuttled to Chile

* Loosen My Load - 1st Sharp Novices' Hurdle (2009)
* Shop Dj - 2nd Champion Novice Chase (2012)

Busy Flight (18th)

* Mister Quasimodo - 3rd Desert Orchid Chase (2007)
* Impulsive Star - 1st Classic Chase (2019)

### Other Stallions

Glory Of Dancer (4th) - Minor flat winners - Exported to India Storm Trooper (15th) - Exported to India

### Broodmare

Portuguese Lil (20th) - Sole runner tailed off in bumper only start

