'I don't have the vocabulary to explain how amazing he was' - Richard Kingscote pays tribute to Desert Crown

Jockey Richard Kingscote has paid tribute to Desert Crown, who gave him his finest hour in the saddle when they won the Derby together at Epsom last year.

On Monday, Sir Michael Stoute's star four-year-old tragically lost a battle with the injuries he sustained on the Newmarket gallops in August despite the best efforts of the vets at Newmarket Equine Hospital.

Kingscote partnered Desert Crown on all four of his career starts including his Classic success over Hoo Ya Mal and Westover, an association that began when they won a mile maiden at Nottingham together in November 2021.

The duo went on to win the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York on his reappearance as a three-year-old in May 2022 in similar easy fashion before their memorable day at Epsom, when Desert Crown was sent off 5-2 favourite.

Kingscote was also in the saddle when Desert Crown went down by just half a length to Hukum on his first start for nearly a year in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown in May, his only start as a four-year-old.

He said: "I have been asked about my thoughts on Desert Crown a few times and firstly, I'm most sorry for the staff at Sir Michael's who adored him and are all heartbroken.

"Secondly, I'm sorry to racing fans in that we will never get to see how brilliant he could have been. And that I don't have the vocabulary to explain how amazing he was."

He added: "I will always be grateful to him for looking after me on those two big days last summer. He was a gentleman and an awesome racehorse. I feel blessed and somewhat embarrassed that it was me that got to feel his brilliance."

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