title: 1996 Epsom Derby
text: # 1996 Epsom Derby
  
  The 1996 Epsom Derby was a horse race which took place at Epsom Downs on Saturday 8 June 1996. It was the 217th running of the Derby, and it was won by Shaamit. The winner was ridden by Michael Hills and trained by William Haggas. The pre-race favourite Dushyantor finished second.
  
  ## Race details
  
  * Sponsor: Vodafone
  * Winner's prize money: £523,100
  * Going: Good (Good to Firm in places)
  * Number of runners: 20
  * Winner's time: 2m 35.05s
  
  ## Full result
  
  | | * | Horse | Jockey | Trainer $^†$ | SP |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | | Shaamit | Michael Hills | William Haggas | 12/1 |
  | 2 | 1¼ | Dushyantor | Pat Eddery | Henry Cecil | 9/2 fav |
  | 3 | 1¼ | Shantou | Frankie Dettori | John Gosden | 25/1 |
  | 4 | 1 | Glory of Dancer | Olivier Peslier | Paul Kelleway | 6/1 |
  | 5 | hd | Alhaarth | Willie Carson | Dick Hern | 15/2 |
  | 6 | 1¼ | Mystic Knight | Kevin Darley | Roger Charlton | 14/1 |
  | 7 | 1 | Jack Jennings | John Reid | Bryan McMahon | 25/1 |
  | 8 | 1¼ | Acharne | Warren O'Connor | Clive Brittain | 200/1 |
  | 9 | 1¾ | Chief Contender | David Harrison | Peter Chapple-Hyam | 15/1 |
  | 10 | ½ | Double Leaf | Johnny Murtagh | Michael Stoute | 16/1 |
  | 11 | nk | Classic Eagle | Allan Mackay | Roger Harris | 200/1 |
  | 12 | shd | Tasdid | Willie Supple | Kevin Prendergast (IRE) | 200/1 |
  | 13 | hd | Even Top | Philip Robinson | Mark Tompkins | 11/2 |
  | 14 | 6 | Spartan Heartbeat | Mark Birch | Clive Brittain | 200/1 |
  | 15 | 1½ | Storm Trooper | Michael Kinane | Henry Cecil | 15/2 |
  | 16 | 1¾ | Zaforum | Dane O'Neill | Les Montague Hall | 150/1 |
  | 17 | 1 | St Mawes | Richard Quinn | John Dunlop | 20/1 |
  | 18 | 5 | Busy Flight | Cash Asmussen | Barry Hills | 25/1 |
  | 19 | 7 | Prince of My Heart | Brent Thomson | Barry Hills | 100/1 |
  | 20 | 3 | Portuguese Lil (filly) | Alex Greaves | David Nicholls | 500/1 |
  
  * The distances between the horses are shown in lengths or shorter. shd = short-head; hd = head; nk = neck. † Trainers are based in Great Britain unless indicated.
  
  ## Winner's details
  
  Further details of the winner, Shaamit:
  
  * Foaled: 11 February 1993, in Ireland
  * Sire: Mtoto; Dam: Shomoose (Habitat)
  * Owner: Khalifa Dasmal
  * Breeder: Khalifa Dasmal
  * Rating in 1996 International Classifications: 124
  
  ## Form analysis
  
  ### Two-year-old races
  
  Notable runs by the future Derby participants as two-year-olds in 1995.
  
  * Glory of Dancer – 1st Gran Criterium
  * Alhaarth – 1st Vintage Stakes, 1st Solario Stakes, 1st Champagne Stakes, 1st Dewhurst Stakes
  * Jack Jennings – 6th Washington Singer Stakes, 3rd Royal Lodge Stakes
  * Acharne – 6th Royal Lodge Stakes
  * Even Top – 1st Somerville Tattersall Stakes, 2nd Racing Post Trophy
  * Storm Trooper – 2nd Autumn Stakes
  * Zaforum – 4th Zetland Stakes, 8th Prix Isonomy
  * Busy Flight – 2nd Haynes, Hanson and Clark Stakes, 2nd Horris Hill Stakes
  * Prince of My Heart – 6th Silver Tankard Stakes
  
  ### The road to Epsom
  
  Early-season appearances in 1996 and trial races prior to running in the Derby.
  
  * Dushyantor – 2nd Dante Stakes
  * Glory of Dancer – 2nd Sandown Classic Trial, 1st Dante Stakes
  * Alhaarth – 2nd Craven Stakes, 4th 2,000 Guineas
  * Mystic Knight – 1st Lingfield Derby Trial
  * Jack Jennings – 3rd Feilden Stakes, 3rd Dante Stakes
  * Acharne – 5th Premio Parioli, 6th Lingfield Derby Trial
  * Double Leaf – 4th Sandown Classic Trial, 5th Dante Stakes
  * Classic Eagle – 7th Thirsk Classic Trial, 6th Chester Vase
  * Tasdid – 3rd Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes, 4th Amethyst Stakes
  * Even Top – 2nd 2,000 Guineas
  * Storm Trooper – 1st Feilden Stakes, 11th 2,000 Guineas, 6th Dante Stakes
  * Zaforum – 3rd Lingfield Derby Trial
  * St Mawes – 2nd Feilden Stakes, 2nd Chester Vase, 3rd Predominate Stakes
  * Busy Flight – 6th Sandown Classic Trial
  * Prince of My Heart – 3rd Chester Vase
  * Portuguese Lil – 10th 1,000 Guineas
  
  ### Subsequent Group 1 wins
  
  Group 1 / Grade I victories after running in the Derby.
  
  * Shantou – St. Leger (1996), Gran Premio del Jockey Club (1996), Gran Premio di Milano (1997)
  * Chief Contender – Prix du Cadran (1997)
  * Storm Trooper – Hollywood Invitational Turf Handicap (1998)
  
  ## Subsequent breeding careers
  
  Leading progeny of participants in the 1996 Epsom Derby.
  
  ### Sires of Classic winners
  
  Alhaarth (5th)
  
  * Haafhd - 1st 2000 Guineas Stakes (2004)
  * Phoenix Reach - 1st Hong Kong Vase (2004)
  * Bandari - 3rd St Leger Stakes (2002)
  * Iktitaf - 1st Morgiana Hurdle (2006)
  
  Shaamit (1st)
  
  * Bollin Eric - 1st St Leger Stakes (2002)
  
  ### Sires of Group/Grade One winners
  
  Even Top (13th)
  
  * Cirrus des Aigles - Champion Older Horse (2011)
  
  ### Sires of National Hunt horses
  
  Shantou (3rd)
  
  * The Storyteller - 1st Champion Novice Chase (2018)
  * Ballynagour - 1st Prix la Barka (2015)
  * Beware The Bear - 1st Festival Trophy Handicap Chase (2019)
  * Bun Doran - 1st Desert Orchid Chase (2019)
  
  Dushyantor (2nd) - also shuttled to Chile
  
  * Loosen My Load - 1st Sharp Novices' Hurdle (2009)
  * Shop Dj - 2nd Champion Novice Chase (2012)
  
  Busy Flight (18th)
  
  * Mister Quasimodo - 3rd Desert Orchid Chase (2007)
  * Impulsive Star - 1st Classic Chase (2019)
  
  ### Other Stallions
  
  Glory Of Dancer (4th) - Minor flat winners - Exported to India Storm Trooper (15th) - Exported to India
  
  ### Broodmare
  
  Portuguese Lil (20th) - Sole runner tailed off in bumper only start
  
  