Irish And German Derbys Make Strong World Pool Showing

[Wandering Eyes]

Sunday's G1 Irish Derby at the Curragh and Hamburg's G1 Deutsches Derby cards both resulted in strong turnover for the World Pool, the Hong Kong Jockey Club announced on Wednesday.

A total of HK$246.9 million (€28.9m/£24.9m) was reported as turnover on the eight-race Irish card and the Deutsches Derby, which was the first-ever World Pool event in Germany. Created and operated by the HKJC, the World Pool also offered value for racing fans with Tote+ Win beating SP in six of the eight races on Irish Derby Day and Tote+ Win overround as 107% compared to industry SP overround of 125%.

World Pool's €4,000 Moment of the Day was awarded to Megan Hassett, the groom of Harry's Hill (GB) (Heeraat {Ire}), who won the Rockingham H. in a tight finish. The horse was trained by her father Martin and ridden by her cousin Wayne. The moment will be entered into the World Pool Moment of the Year, and Hassett is up for a VIP trip to Hong Kong in 2024, if she wins that accolade.

Michael Fitzsimons, Executive Director, Wagering Products, at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said, “It was a really pleasing start to our first ever World Pool race in Germany with the Deutsches Derby and our first ever meeting at the Curragh on Irish Derby Day.”

Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive Officer, The Curragh Racecourse, said, “The Curragh Racecourse was delighted to participate in the Tote World Pool for the first time for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby meeting last Sunday and we were delighted with the response of World Pool patrons.

“Good field sizes and competitive racing were the order of the day and history was made as Auguste Rodin completed the Epsom Derby/Irish Derby double, providing trainer Aidan O'Brien with his 100th European Classic winner and jockey Ryan Moore with his very first success in the Irish Derby.”

Gerhard Schoeningh, Chairman of German Racecourse Association (BGG GmbH), said, “The German Derby was the first World Pool event for us and we are delighted to be able to showcase our top staying horses to a worldwide audience. The much-enhanced pool size also boosted German stakes by a gratifying 33% compared to last year.”

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