Demolished a High-Class Field 26/07/2003

Alamshar's owner the Aga Khan said: "I am very pleased indeed. "Alamshar and Dalakhani both had logical reasons to run in the Irish Derby and before that race I did say that I was aiming Alamshar at this race. Dalakhani is having an autumn campaign.

"The two horses had a programme that was going to clash in the Irish Derby but probably not after that but who knows.

"I think Alamshar has improved since his Irish Derby victory. I really don't know if Alamshar and Dalakhani will meet again.

"Good horse's programmes need to be developed race by race and that is what I am trying to do.

"It does bring back memories of Shergar's victory in this race. What is exciting is the continuation of the breeding stock, which is able to produce horses, and of course this horse goes back to Mumtaz Mahal.

"I have a wonderful trainer - his conversations are short and precise - and a wonderful jockey."

The winning jockey Johnny Murtagh said: "He just picked up the bridle himself half a mile out and I was saying just wait, wait until the two-furlong marker before I let him go.
"I asked him to really quicken then and it went all quiet – I looked round and I couldn't believe it - he is some horse - he has had to improve as much if not more from the Irish Derby to here.

"He has improved out of all proportion. In the (Vodafone) Derby, I felt that Pat Eddery slowed the pace on Tattenham Hill and he packed us all up and I was so tight coming down the hill so I was galloping on top of two or three horses. I didn't really get out until the straight and I stayed on really well - he was only having his fifth race then and just wasn't clued in enough.

"But Epsom really made a man of him and he has bounced. He does not ride small - he rides big - he covers a lot of ground and has a good presence.
"Jeremy Hogan, who rides him all the time, told me that he was absolutely flying at home - even better than before the Irish Derby.

"He has demolished a top-class field and is only going to get better. He will be near the top. I have been very lucky all through my career and these colours have played a big part - I just want to thank everybody."