Pour Moi produces scintillating Derby-winning performance!

Mickael Barzalona holds the French flag aloft after Pour Moi’s Investec Derby triumph. Image courtesy of Racingfotos.com.

It may not have been a fairytale ending for The Queen and the legions of Carlton House supporters, but the 2011 Investec Derby saw a sensational performance from the Andre Fabre-trained Pour Moi, who came from the back of the field and showed remarkable acceleration inside the final furlong to hit the front in the shadow of the post.

It was a brilliantly cool ride from 19-year-old French jockey Mickael Barzalona, having his first ride in the race, who settled the colt in last place and came wide up the straight with an unstoppable run to land the world’s greatest Flat race.

"It took Frankie (Dettori) 15 years to win his first Derby, but I did it with my first ride!" he joked afterwards.

Carlton House was also forced wide round Tattenham Corner in what was quite a rough race, but when Ryan Moore brought him with his challenge in the straight it looked like a Royal winner might be on the cards. 

He could not get past the Aidan O’Brien-trained Treasure Beach, however, and was then relegated to third when Pour Moi stormed past on his outside as the winning post loomed.

Only a head separated the winner and Treasure Beach at the line, with Carlton House, who lost a front shoe inside the final furlong, three-quarters of a length back in third.

A bitterly disappointed Ryan Moore, who was clearly unhappy about being forced wide on the approach to the straight, looked close to tears after the race. 

However, the winner had to steer an even wider route and there can be no doubt that the best horse won, with Pour Moi clearly a colt of the highest class.

The winning trainer said: "He is such a good horse. He accelerated twice, once to catch up and then again.

"It is such a pleasure to win this race with my young jockey in front of a big crowd. I couldn’t be more happy."

For Carlton House, who had to overcome an injury scare during the week, there will be another day. He may have fallen just short in this QIPCO British Champions Series race, but he looks well up to winning a big prize for The Queen before the season is over.

For the full Investec Derby result, CLICK HERE.