Although well beaten on his reappearance in the Group 3 bet365 Gordon Richard Stakes at Newmarket last month, the eight-year-old looked right back to near his best at Epsom this afternoon.
Charlie Johnston's Marie's Diamond cut out the early running but soon came under pressure from Highland Avenue (2/1 F) turning for home. The Charlie Appleby-trained grey looked to be travelling sweetly entering the final three furlongs with Kolsai seemingly the likely danger. However, Regal Reality had other ideas as Ryan Moore came with one well-timed run to pass the two leaders entering the final furlong and draw clear for a three-quarter length success. Highland Avenue stuck on well to finish second with Roger Varian's Kolsai back in third.
Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore teamed up to land this race with Zaaki back in 2019 and the trainer will be hoping the supplemented Passenger can replicate last year's Epsom Derby victory in the next.
Ryan Moore spoke to ITV Racing's Oli Bell after the win and said:
"The pace stepped on at halfway and when they came back to him, he picked up well
"He's been a pleasure.
"He's been a good horse for us and has won a Group race nearly every year. It's great to do it again today at the age of eight."
Sir Michael Stoute added:
"He keeps doing it once a year so let's hope he can do it twice a year this time!
"We've no plans, we'll just have to ask him when we wants to go. We try to keep him happy as he's very strong minded."
"I think he's won five group races now. He's quite a character but he has given us a lot of fun and delighted for the owner, Peter Done, brother of Fred, the founder and Chairman of Derby sponsor Betfred.
Following win Fred Done said: Peter's at Wembley Stadium today. I can't be there unfortunately as I'm sponsoring The Derby, but what a great day to be here. He phoned me straight after the race and said 'Bring the readies home - make sure you keep it in the family'. It's a fabulous day for everybody.
"I don't know how much confidence there was behind him, but Peter said before the race that he thought he had some sort of chance. I thought 'You are dreaming', but Peter's very happy about it."
Charlie Appleby, trainer of runner-up Highland Avenue, said: "He has run another solid race and that is what he is like.
"Trip wise, we have come down in trip and as William (Buick) has just said there he is one of those horses that will be bang there in these sort of races. He would probably appreciate going back over 10 furlongs.
