EPSOM, England: French raider Pour Moi, the second favorite ridden by 19-year-old Mickael Barzalona and trained by Andre Fabre, won the Epsom Derby by a head Saturday after a storming late run. The colt edged out outsider Treasure Beach with favorite Carlton House, owned by Britain's Queen Elizabeth, three quarters of a length away in third place. It was the first ride in the Derby for French teenager Barzalona who has been hailed as the hottest young riding talent in Europe and stood up in celebration before the winning post. For 65-year-old Fabre the victory brought to an end a long losing run in England's premier classic dating back to 1981. Frontrunning Memphis Tennessee held a six-length lead turning into the straight but fellow Irish raider Treasure Beach and then Carlton House hauled him in with 100 meters to race only to be outdone by the late charge of Pour Moi. “It's such a pleasure to win this race with my young jockey in front of a big crowd,” Fabre told reporters. “I couldn't be more happy.” The race went ahead without three-time winner Kieren Fallon who lost out in a courtroom battle and was barred from riding the well fancied Recital, who finished sixth under replacement jockey Pat Smullen.
