Epsom aces: The highest-rated Derby winners

1. Shergar (Timform Rating 140)

Few horses are as famous as Shergar, whose kidnapping when at stud in 1983 sparked a media frenzy. However, he also attracted plenty of headlines for his performances on the track and is remembered as one of racing’s most talented horses, with his stunning ten-length success in the 1981 Derby a particular highlight.

Shergar romped away with the Classic Trial at Sandown and the Chester Vase, which ensured that he was sent off an odds-on favourite for the Derby in the hands of teenage prodigy Walter Swinburn. Shergar was produced to lead rounding Tattenham Corner and quickly drew right away from his rivals, eventually easing down as he passed the post ten lengths clear of Glint of Gold. He provided trainer Sir Michael Stoute with the first of his five Derby winners to date and his exceptional performance earned a rating of 140, which places him among the top dozen horses in Timeform’s history.

2. Troy (137)

Troy progressed markedly when upped in trip as a three-year-old, completing a famous Group 1 treble consisting of the Derby, Irish Derby and, up against older horses, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. It was, however, the first of those triumphs that really earmarked the Dick Hern-trained colt as a superstar and set him up to eventually win the Timeform horse of the year for 1979.

Having been held up through the first half of the race, Troy made progress on the outside in the straight and produced what became a trademark strong finishing effort to hit the front approaching the final furlong, drawing seven lengths clear of Dickens Hill, giving Willie Carson a first win in the race.

3. Slip Anchor (136)

Slip Anchor’s career peaked with a stunning performance in the 1985 Derby. Although the son of Shirley Heights had shown promise on his first few outings, the colt was not viewed as a Derby contender until producing a remarkable display in the Lingfield trial, where he made all to beat Lord Grundy by ten lengths.

Sent off the 9/4 favourite for the Derby on the back of such a display, Slip Anchor’s rider Steve Cauthen employed the same tactics to rout Law Society by seven lengths with a margin almost as far back to the others. It was a display which earned the Sir Henry Cecil-trained Slip Anchor a Timeform Rating of 136 and, though injury and temperament issues held him back thereafter, there’s no doubt he produced an outstanding performance at Epsom.

4= Nijinsky (135)

The Vincent O’Brien-trained Nijinsky completed the Triple Crown in 1970, winning the 2000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger, and no horse in the subsequent 50 years has matched the feat. Having won the 2000 Guineas by two and a half lengths, the son of Northern Dancer arrived at Epsom as a warm order for the Derby and he ran out a ready winner under Lester Piggott, beating Gyr by two and a half lengths, again proving himself an outstanding racehorse. Three months later Nijinsky made no mistake when it came to completing the Triple Crown in the St Leger at Doncaster, landing the odds of 7/2-on in straightforward fashion.

4= Grundy (135)

Following a perfect juvenile campaign which culminated in an impressive six-length win in the Dewhurst Stakes, Grundy’s three-year-old season didn’t start ideally as he suffered a first defeat in the 1975 Greenham Stakes at Newbury before bumping into Bolkonski in the 2000 Guineas. He did, however, regain the winning thread in the Irish 2000 Guineas before pulling clear at Epsom to beat Nobiliary by three lengths under Pat Eddery.

Grundy, who was trained by Peter Walwyn, went on to be involved in one of the greatest duels of all time in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes later in the year as he famously held off Bustino to prevail after a ding-dong battle up the straight.

4= Generous (135)

The Paul Cole-trained Generous was beaten in the 2000 Guineas but, as his pedigree suggested, really appreciated stepping up to middle-distances and he racked up an impressive Group 1 hat-trick in 1991, starting with the Derby at Epsom.

After hitting the front entering the straight, Generous, ridden by Alan Munro, put his stamina to good use and impressively drew clear, beating runner-up Marju by five lengths with the rest of the field coming home at wide margins.

Generous went on to complete dominant victories in the Irish Derby and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, underlining his top-class credentials.