EPSOM (England), June 7: English challenger Kris Kin won the English Derby here on Saturday landing a major gamble and backing up trainer Michael Stoute’s decision to supplement him for US$150,000 earlier in the week.

Kris Kin, who was giving trainer Michael Stoute his third winner in the race and rider Kieren Fallon his second, won Europe’s richest race purse of beating home longtime leader the 20/1 shot The Great Gatsby by a length while Alamshar was third at 4/1.

Norse Dancer came from the clouds down the finishing straight to take fourth.

Stoute said it was the end of some difficult years for him in the Derby since he won twice in the 1980s with the imperious Shergar in 1981 and Shahrastani in 1986.

“You can’t win it too many times. We have had misfortune over the years, but I am delighted it’s come good and for owner Saeed Suhail who supplemented it,” said the Barbados-born son of a former police chief on the Carribbean island.

However, Stoute gave the most praise to his Irish jockey.

“It was one of the great Derby rides by Kieren Fallon,” said Stoute, who has stood by Fallon even when some of his owners said they didn’t want him to ride for them.

Result:

Group I English Derby Stakes, a group one race for three-year-old colts, run over one and a half miles (2.4 kms) on Saturday:

1. Kris Kin 6-1 (ridden by Kieren Fallon)

2. The Great Gatsby 20-1 (Pat Eddery)

3. Alamshar 4-1 (Johnny Murtagh) 20 ran.

Distances: One length, short head

Winner owned by Saeed Suhail and trained in England by Michael Stoute.

Value to winner: 852,600 sterling ($1.42 million).—Reuters