'I knew we had a mountain to climb' - Dettori retains faith in English King

Frankie Dettori admitted he had his fears for English King after he discovered his mount was drawn in stall one for the Investec Derby, but declared he is still a horse with a bright future following his disappointment in the Epsom Classic.

English King had drifted in the betting throughout the day before finishing fifth at 100-30, six and a half lengths behind Serpentine. Dettori credited the winner however, noting he was largely playing for second spot.

English King: only fifth in the Derby after winning at LingfieldCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

"I put on a brave face beforehand but really I knew we had a mountain to climb when Ed [Walker] told me we were drawn in stall one," Dettori said on Sunday, following the success of A'Ali in the Coral Charge.

"He jumped left out of the gate and we were playing catch-up fairly early on so I was relying on Mogul to take us along. I had him and Oisin [Murphy] in my reach but Serpentine was gone.

"Perhaps if things went better for me we could've finished second but it's just one of those things. The horse still has a very good future."

Meanwhile Oisin Murphy said after the race that 2,000 Guineas winner Kameko did not stay the Derby trip and will be dropping in distance after he finishing fourth at Epsom.

Oisin Murphy: finished fourth on Kameko in Saturday's DerbyCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

Murphy posted his reflections on Twitter of one of the most stunning Epsom Classics in history.

He said: "The bottom line is I feel Kameko doesn't stay a mile and a half and we will definitely be coming back in distance.

"Kameko has a very good turn of foot but when I initially went for him there wasn't much response and by the time I picked up my stick to give him a tap he wasn't going any faster.

"I am speaking completely off the feel; I haven't seen the sectional times but I am sure it will back up that Kameko's slowest sectionals are definitely the last two furlongs."

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Even more galling for Murphy was that he could not get past a horse he knows well in the shape of the stable's Khalifa Sat, who finished second, a nose and half a length in front of him.

Turning to the criticism that has been levelled at jockeys after Emmet McNamara's front-running ride on the 25-1 winner Serpentine, Murphy added: "It is a bit frustrating the order of the race didn't change much.

"I thought I was okay rolling down the hill with six to run, hoping the horses in front might stop, but it was apparent coming around Tattenham Corner when I went inside Harry Bentley to save ground that we were very well strung out and the bird might have flown."

As to his own tactics, Murphy said: "I broke really smartly and he felt like he was still going a mile in the Guineas so I spent the first 400 metres trying to get him to relax and drop the bridle.

"I settled in behind Max Vega after about 600 metres and I thought the tempo was okay.

"We didn't go that fast along the top but with my horse stepping up in trip I was keen to conserve as much energy as I could.

"Emmet was kind of getting a freebie in front but none of us were going to make a mid-race manoeuvre having got into the rhythm of a mile-and-a-half Classic race."

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