1987 Epsom Derby
The 1987 Epsom Derby was a horse race which took place at Epsom Downs on Wednesday 3 June 1987. It was the 208th running of the Derby, and it was won by the pre-race favourite Reference Point. The winner was ridden by Steve Cauthen and trained by Henry Cecil.
Race details
- Sponsor: Ever Ready
- Winner's prize money: £282,025
- Going: Good
- Number of runners: 19
- Winner's time: 2m 33.90s
Full result
* The distances between the horses are shown in lengths or shorter. shd = short-head; nk = neck.† Trainers are based in Great Britain unless indicated.
Winner's details
Further details of the winner, Reference Point:- Foaled: February 26, 1984, in Great Britain
- Sire: Mill Reef; Dam: Home on the Range
- Owner: Louis Freedman
- Breeder: Louis Freedman
- Rating in 1987 International Classifications: 135
Form analysis
Two-year-old races
Notable runs by the future Derby participants as two-year-olds in 1986.- Reference Point – 1st Futurity Stakes
- Most Welcome – 5th Middle Park Stakes
- Bellotto – 1st Acomb Stakes
- Groom Dancer – 1st Prix Herod, 8th Prix de la Salamandre, 1st Prix de Condé, 3rd Critérium de Saint-Cloud
- Ajdal – 1st Dewhurst Stakes
- Love the Groom – 3rd Futurity Stakes
- Gulf King – 8th Chesham Stakes, 6th Prix de la Salamandre, 1st Beresford Stakes
The road to Epsom
Early-season appearances in 1987 and trial races prior to running in the Derby.- Reference Point – 1st Dante Stakes
- Most Welcome – 3rd Craven Stakes, 13th 2,000 Guineas
- Bellotto – 3rd Greenham Stakes, 2nd 2,000 Guineas
- Sir Harry Lewis – 1st Dee Stakes
- Entitled – 2nd Irish 2,000 Guineas
- Mountain Kingdom – 3rd Easter Stakes, 2nd Lingfield Derby Trial
- Groom Dancer – 1st Prix Omnium II, 1st Prix de Guiche, 1st Prix Lupin
- Sadjiyd – 1st Prix Noailles, 1st Prix Hocquart
- Ajdal – 1st Craven Stakes, 4th 2,000 Guineas, Irish 2,000 Guineas
- Persifleur – 1st Prix Greffulhe, 3rd Dante Stakes
- Ascot Knight – 2nd Dante Stakes
- Love the Groom – 4th Craven Stakes
- Ibn Bey – 5th Lingfield Derby Trial, 1st Predominate Stakes
- Legal Bid – 1st Feilden Stakes, 1st Lingfield Derby Trial
- Gulf King – 6th Craven Stakes, 1st Sandown Classic Trial, 5th Dante Stakes
- Water Boatman – 3rd Feilden Stakes, 6th Lingfield Derby Trial, 2nd Gallinule Stakes
- Alwasmi – 2nd Predominate Stakes
- Romantic Prince – 4th Dante Stakes
Subsequent Group 1 wins
Group 1 / Grade I victories after running in the Derby.- Reference Point – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, St. Leger
- Sir Harry Lewis – Irish Derby
- Ajdal – July Cup, William Hill Sprint Championship
- Ibn Bey – Gran Premio d'Italia, Preis von Europa, Deutschland-Preis, Irish St. Leger
Subsequent breeding careers
Leading progeny of participants in the 1987 Epsom Derby.Sires of Classic winners
Reference Point
- Ivyanna - 1st Oaks d'Italia - Dam of Snowflake
- Hill of Snow - Dam of Preseli and Snowfire
- Sand Reef - 2nd Prix Jean de Chaudenay
- Racing Blue - 3rd Deutsches St. Leger
- Groom Tesse - 1st Derby Italiano
- Pursuit Of Love - 3rd 2000 Guineas Stakes
- Le Balafre - 1st Prix Jean Prat
- Lord Of Men - 1st Prix de la Salamandre
- Bahamian Knight - 1st Derby Italiano
- Influent - 1st Man o' War Stakes
- Plenty Of Sugar - 2nd Coaching Club American Oaks
- Ladies' Day - Dam of He's No Pie Eater
Sires of Group/Grade One winners
Most Welcome
- Arctic Owl - 1st Irish St. Leger
- Suances - 1st Prix Jean Prat
- Star - Dam of Pastoral Pursuits and Goodricke
- Kissair - 1st Triumph Hurdle
- Bullwinkle - 1st South Australian Derby
- My Brightia - 1st Crown Oaks
- Littorio - 1st The BMW
- Clang - Dam of Calaway Gal, Clangalang and Black Piranha
- Cezanne - 1st Irish Champion Stakes
- Garah - 3rd Temple Stakes 1993 - Dam of Olden Times and Festoso
- Avila - Dam of Dilshaan and Darrfonah
- Homage - Dam of Mark Of Esteem
Sires of National Hunt horses
Sir Harry Lewis
- Mighty Man - 1st Long Walk Hurdle
- Diamond Harry - 1st Hennessy Gold Cup
- Harry Topper - 1st Denman Chase
- Unowhatimeanharry - 1st Champion Stayers Hurdle
Other Stallions
Love The Groom - Exported to Italy - Maktub
Ibn Bey - Exported to Japan - Damsire of Big Grass
Entitled - Minor flat and jumps winners - Damsire of River Charm
Persifleur - Minor jumps winners in France
Sadjiyd - Exported to Saudi Arabia
Legal Bid - Exported to Canada - Exported to Germany
Alwasmi - Exported to Canada - Exported to Germany - Exported to Italy