Short-head verdict for Camelot’s Investec Derby victory

Camelot powers to victory in the Investec Derby. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Camelot won the Investec Derby by five lengths and Frankel the JLT Lockinge Stakes by the same margin, but it was just a short-head which separated them in the first QIPCO British Champions Series “Performance of the Month” vote.

Camelot’s Epsom triumph garnered 45.8% of the public vote and Frankel’s Newbury return 44.7%.

Camelot’s neck victory in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, over a trip that was an absolute minimum for a colt with his middle distance pedigree, won the remaining 9.5% of the vote.

The shortlist of three performances was selected by five expert panellists – Michael Owen, who made a very eloquent case for Camelot’s Guineas triumph, Lee Mottershead and Alex Hammond, who both championed Frankel’s Lockinge victory, and Cornelius Lysaght and Nick Luck, who backed the ultimate winner.

The next vote will open after Royal Ascot when the seven QIPCO British Champions Series races taking place next week will be narrowed down to a shortlist of three performances for the second public vote.

All voters enter a free prize draw to win a pair of tickets to a future QIPCO British Champions Series raceday. The first winner was Sophie Dart.