1852: three-year-old season Daniel O'Rourke (horse)

daniel o rourke s derby 1 of forty classic wins john scott

daniel o rourke made seasonal reappearance in 2000 guineas @ newmarket fancied, starting second favourite @ odds of 3/1. finished fifth of 9 runners behind stockwell, , beaten long way .

at epsom on 26 may daniel o rourke started 25/1 outsider derby little harry starting favourite ahead of hobbie noble. according daily news, compiled list of predictions , prophecies race weeks in advance, none of press commentators or experts mentioned daniel o rourke potential winner. race, offered first prize of £5,050 attracted customary huge crowd, despite cold weather , heavy rain made ground unusually soft , sticky . there several false starts caused partly crowd encroaching onto course, twenty-seven runners got under way, little harry leading in stages , daniel o rourke, ridden frank butler in field. butler moved daniel o rourke steadily closer, still @ least 4 lengths behind leaders turned straight. closing stages of race difficult follow, horses stretched across entire width of track: daniel o rourke steadily wore down barbarian on stands side, while chief baron nicholson , hobbie noble raced against opposite rail. daniel o rourke, staying distance on tiring ground, crossed line short half length ahead of barbarian, length chief baron nicholson, beat hobbie noble head third place. stockwell, training had been disrupted gumboil , badly hampered in race, finished unplaced. winning time of 3:02 slowest recorded time: ellington broke record winning in 3:04 4 years later.

daniel o rourke sent royal ascot won st james s palace stakes, beating alcoran cleverly length, despite suffering injury hip in horse-box on way course. @ epsom, seemed particularly well-suited heavy ground. experience of running injured however, spoilt colt s temperament , became increasing difficult train. in ebor st leger @ york in august started @ 2/5 against rival, frantic. although descriptions of race conflicting details, reports agreed frantic beat daniel o rourke easily.

in september sent doncaster st leger made 5/2 second favourite behind stockwell (7/4) in field of six. never able reach leaders , finished remote third stockwell won ten lengths. @ newmarket on 29 september finished third of 6 runners in triennial stakes behind hobbie noble.