Hobbs Law

Second only to Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in the G1 Epsom Derby June 6, Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) proved that form to be by far the strongest in Europe when inflicting a heavy defeat on the home contingent and upholding the form of the blue riband with Storm the Stars (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in Saturday’s 150th renewal of the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh. Always traveling with prowess under William Buick, the 10-11 favorite was going almost too well in Godolphin’s royal blue in early stretch as the Epsom third Storm the Stars had everything else in trouble. When the button was pushed with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining, the dark bay duly opened up to score by five lengths with Giovanni Canaletto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) faring best of the domestic runners a full 5 1/2 lengths away in third.

“He’s a great horse and he was even better than at Epsom,” his rider said. “He’s improving all the time and he’s been handled brilliantly by John [Gosden]. He’s a late-maturing horse who is really coming to himself now and it went pretty smoothly. Races have come thick and fast for him and he’s had to learn how to run fast quickly. He’s got better with every run; he’s a horse with a great turn of foot. He’s a quick horse that stays. It means so much to Sheikh Mohammed and all of us in the team who work so hard.”

Six months to the day after he had been introduced in a Wolverhampton maiden, Jack Hobbs was making himself a household name in Kildare and were it not for his stable companion Golden Horn would be an unbeaten and unchallenged dual Derby winner. Allowed the chance to fully exploit his ridiculously lenient handicap mark over 10 furlongs at Sandown Apr. 24, he defied even the most optimistic expectations there by surging to a 12-length score over rivals who have since shown smart form in similar races. In the May 14 G2 Dante S. at York he was no match for Golden Horn, and John Gosden was wondering if his physique meant that he was being asked too much too soon, but he continued to thrive prior to the Derby and was sent there to re-oppose the Oppenheimer colt. Traveling arguably better than his barnmate coming down Tattenham Hill, he was again swamped late on, but finished clear of the remainder in a show of domination from the Gosden stable.

Despite the ground coming up quick at this meeting, which has often been plagued by unfavorable weather in recent times, and his conditioner’s continuing misgivings that he was asking too much of such an imposing and unfurnished individual, Jack Hobbs arrived at The Curragh full of bounce and showed that zeal in the early stages. Held on to by William Buick in third as Storm the Stars and Giovanni Canaletto provided the tow, he was sent between that pair turning for home and it was there that the Curragh faithful witnessed the visible spark that lights his fire. Buick was keen to hold back for a while with Storm the Stars covered and the rest struggling in behind and, when the question came inside the last quarter mile, the Godolphin flagbearer was quick to reply. For Gosden, the current campaign keeps getting better, as his star colts set the bar too high for their contemporaries. “It was genuine good-to-firm ground and it’s nice to see the form from Epsom working out so solidly,” he said. “He traveled really well and William just waited after he came at the head of the straight, and I loved the way he finished off his race. The second horse has run a blinder and he was third at Epsom.” Gosden confirmed Jack Hobbs would now enjoy a break.

“We’ll put him away now and go for the G2 Prix Niel [at Longchamp Sept. 13] and then on to the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe [at Longchamp Oct. 4],” the conditioner said. “He needs a holiday. He’s a big, rangy horse and he just needs some time to fill out.”