AFTER nearly 40 years as an owner in racing, Derrick Smith finally fulfilled his life-long dream of winning the Derby when Seeking My Dream easily won the 95th running of the Blue Riband event sponsored by Cal’s Manufacturing Limited at Caymanas Park yesterday.

The Jamaica Labour Party member of Parliament made his intentions known from early in the career of Seeking My Dream when he said publicly that the reason he so named the horse was to win the Derby.

“I am elated… over elated. What is very important to me is that all of my immediate family members are here with me today (yesterday), and that made a difference. It’s been a long road for me, it took me 39 years plus to win the Derby.

“I am a happy man as happy as can be; my dream has been fulfilled,” Smith said.

It was also a dream come true for jockey Omar Walker who, despite winning the jockeys’ championship four times, was unable to leave his mark on a Derby, a situation he dealt with yesterday in decisive fashion with a text book ride on Seeking My Dream.

“The feeling right now is just wonderful. I am just really happy to win my first Derby. I must thank the trainer, owner, and the connections for giving me this ride. The victory meant a lot for me as it is a well-deserved achievement,” Walker told the Sunday Observer.

For trainer Wayne DaCosta, the Derby was a case of ‘same old, same old’ as the 14-time champion trainer was recording his fifth Derby success. This time however, he went one better, as second past the post, Ali Baba, is also trained by DaCosta.

“The feeling is always great to win the Derby… this is special not only because I came first and second, but also because it is with two long-standing owners that have been with me over 30 years, and I want to take off my hats to both of them,” DaCosta noted.

Ali Baba is owned by Winston Kong.

It was a great day for Walker, as he rode three winners to cap off a wonderful Derby Day. He won aboard Eusebia in the 10th race and completed his hat-trick in the 12th and final event with Meritone.

The DaCosta’s stables also had a good day as they posted two winners, with the other being Rio Cobre (Robert Halledeen) in the seventh race. Rio Cobre is jointly owned by Smith and Elizabeth DaCosta.

Seeking My Dream (Seeking The Glory-Alsafra) was held off the pace in mid-pack by Walker behind Road Wi Seh (Ruja Lahoe), Bongo King (Rayan Wilson) and Berranca (Orlando foster) passing the stands for the first time and into the clubhouse turn.

As the 15 runners sorted themselves out, Seeking My Dream maintained his steady gallop passing the six-furlong point. When Poker Star was sent through by Shamaree Muir approaching the half-mile, Walker then asked his mount to go and the roar from the thousands of race fans at the Park went with Seeking My Dream, with stable companion Ali Baba on his outside.

With Walker using hands and knees only to urge his mount, Seeking My Dream then made what turned out to be a decisive move when hitting the front full of running approaching the home bend and from there on he was never caught, winning comfortably by four-and-a-half lengths in native-bred three-year-olds Futurity event going over a mile and a half (12 furlongs).

Governor’s Cup winner Kronus (Richard Mairs) finished third ahead of Original Train (Winston Griffiths).

Seeking My Dream covered the distance in 2:37:2 minutes.

Glyder, with Ameth Robles in the saddles, won the secondary feature, the Cal’s Spring Water Juvenile Stakes at odds of 16-1 over 600 metres.

Racing continues next Saturday.