Serpentine’s unexpected success in Saturday’s Derby shows punters everywhere that results like this are part of racing
Tricky things, pacemakers. In theory, they sacrifice themselves for the good of everyone else, setting an even tempo through the first two-thirds of a race, strong but not too strong, so the good horses settle down in the early stages before quickening past in the straight to seize the glory that is rightfully theirs.
But, as chess players know, every piece in play deserves respect. Left unchallenged, any pawn can go the length of the board and become a
Queen. When the entries were made for this Derby last Thursday, Serpentine was widely imagined to be no more than a foot soldier in Aidan O’Brien’s army, present only to set things up for his betters, but they paid dearly for underestimating him and now he wears the crown.