2004 Epsom Derby

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The 2004 Epsom Derby was a horse race that took place at Epsom Downs on Saturday 5 June 2004. It was the 225th running of the Derby, won by the pre-race joint favourite North Light. The winner was ridden by Kieren Fallon and trained by Sir Michael Stoute. The other joint favourite Snow Ridge finished seventh.

Race details

 * Sponsor: Vodafone
 * Winner's prize money: £788,220
 * Going: Good
 * Number of runners: 14
 * Winner's time: 2m 33.72s

Full result
* The distances between the horses are shown in lengths or shorter. hd = head; nk = neck. † Trainers are based in Great Britain unless indicated.

Winner's details
Further details of the winner, North Light:
 * Foaled: 1 March 2001 in Ireland
 * Sire: Danehill; Dam: Sought Out (Rainbow Quest)
 * Owner: Ballymacoll Stud
 * Breeder: Ballymacoll Stud Farm Ltd
 * Rating in 2004 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings: 122

Two-year-old races
Notable runs by the future Derby participants as two-year-olds in 2003.


 * Rule of Law – 1st Acomb Stakes, 3rd Royal Lodge Stakes
 * Let the Lion Roar – 2nd Haynes, Hanson and Clark Stakes
 * American Post – 1st Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère, 1st Racing Post Trophy
 * Snow Ridge – 1st Royal Lodge Stakes, 9th Dewhurst Stakes
 * Elshadi – 1st Haynes, Hanson and Clark Stakes, 4th Autumn Stakes

The road to Epsom
Early-season appearances in 2004 and trial races prior to running in the Derby.


 * North Light – 1st Dante Stakes
 * Rule of Law – 2nd Dante Stakes
 * Let the Lion Roar – 3rd Dante Stakes
 * Percussionist – 1st Lingfield Derby Trial
 * Salford City – 1st Greenham Stakes, 6th 2,000 Guineas
 * American Post – 1st Prix Omnium II, 1st Prix de Fontainebleau, 1st Poule d'Essai des Poulains
 * Snow Ridge – 2nd 2,000 Guineas
 * Hazyview – 1st Newmarket Stakes, 2nd Lingfield Derby Trial, 1st Fairway Stakes
 * Gatwick – 1st Haydock Silver Bowl
 * Meath – 2nd Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes, 2nd Amethyst Stakes, 1st Gallinule Stakes

Subsequent Group 1 wins
Group 1 / Grade I victories after running in the Derby.


 * Rule of Law – St. Leger (2004)

Subsequent breeding careers
Leading progeny of participants in the 2004 Epsom Derby.

Sires of Classic winners
North Light (1st)
 * Arctic Cosmos - 1st St Leger Stakes (2010)
 * Celtic New Year - 2nd Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap (2011)

Sires of Group/Grade One winners
American Post (6th)
 * Robin Of Navan - 1st Critérium de Saint-Cloud (2015)
 * Ana Americana - 3rd Prix Saint-Alary (2009)
 * Liliside - 1st(disqualified) Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (2010) dam of Lys Gracieux (Japanese Horse of the Year 2019)
 * Got Away - 1st Charnwood Forest Mares' Chase (2018)

Other Stallions
Let The Lion Roar (3rd) - Nautical Nitwit (1st West Yorkshire Hurdle 2018) Rule Of Law (2nd) - Exported to Japan before relocating to Ireland - Minor jumps winners