The Epsom Vodafone Derby was easily won by he 3/1 favourite, Motivator on Saturday.

Roared on by members of the 230-strong Royal Ascot Racing Club, the Michael Bell-trained colt was given a great ride by Johnny Murtagh to take the blue riband from the running-on Walk In The Park. The clubs members include South African`s Laurie Jaffee, Bernard Kantor and Des Scott. The Montjeu-colt was bought for 75.000 guineas as a yearling.

Godoolphin`s Dubawi was third with Dettori aboard.

Johnny Murtagh, the winning jockey on Motivator, said: "It does not really sink in until you get home tonight and watch it, but it was certainly easier than my two previous winners.

"When he was in front in the last two furlongs it all went quiet and I just had a peek behind and I could not believe how far in front I was.

"He jumped well and I got a good position early, though there was not much pace in the first two furlongs. I let a couple go past me so that I could sit third or fourth which was just where I wanted to be.

"I then tracked Seb (Sanders on Hattan) and he gave me a lovely lead. I was sitting in just behind him and was able to go past him when I wanted him to. I had a lovely run all through the race.

"He is a very, very high class horse. When I rode him at York he didn`t have to do very much and he has improved 100% on that today. I am sure that there is a lot more to come."

John Warren, who bought the winner as a yearling for 75,000 guineas, declared: "This is what we all dream about, You go to the sales looking for horses of this calibre. He was always cruising and there was never an anxious moment and all the fears of his temperament in the build-up to the race were nothing. He is amazing."

Michael Bell, the winning trainer, commented: "It is a privilege to have a horse like this, we are so bloody lucky. We are a relatively small yard, we don`t have 100 horses and it was up to us not to make a balls of it.

"I watched the race next to my wife and Johnny`s and felt that he could be called the winner a long way from home. He has always been a champion at home and he looked like a champion here today.

"The next stage will be the Irish Derby and review our plans after that. Today he has won like we always hoped he would."

Alan Munro, second on Walk In The Park, remarked: "I had a bit of a rough trip. He broke a bit negatively and so we were some way behind for some time. After Tattenham Corner I gave him a crack and he responded really well, but the winner had put distance between him and us and I was never going to catch him. He was very impressive."

Jamie Spencer, rider of the fourth Fracas, said: "I was pleased with the run but the horse was not in love with the course.

"But the ground was beautiful - perfect for all horses - though the result was disappointing for us - that`s life."

David Elsworth, trainer of the eighth The Geezer, commented: "I only saw it live. We got shut out at the top of the hill when we were last and could not get back into it.

"Then we were stopped again which of course is what happens if you are coming from last."

Ryan Moore, rider if the seventh Unfurled, said: "He ran a nice race."

Richard Hughes, partner of the last Kong, declared: "He was never going."

Kieren Fallon felt something was amiss after Gypsy King could secure no better than fifth spot in the Vodafone Derby.

The jockey said: "I don`t think the horse was right. He didn`t feel right. He`s much better than that. I think we will find something wrong in the morning."

Frankie Dettori, whose Derby dream continues to elude him, said of third-placed Dubawi: "He ran a super race but just didn`t stay."

Jimmy Fortune rode ninth-placed Grand Central and commented: "He was just never travelling and probably the track didn`t suit him."

MOTIVATOR BECOMES FIRST SYNDICATE OWNED CLASSIC WINNER

Motivator, running for the 230-member Royal Ascot Racing Club, created history in becoming the first syndicate-owned winner of a British Classic when romping home to a brilliant five-length success in the Vodafone Derby.

Harry Herbert, racing manager to the RARC, said: "This is all down to my brother-in-law John Warren. We`ve worked together for 17 or 18 years and it was him that picked the horse out at the sales.

"I remember this horse as a yearling and he was in the Wall boxes (at Tattersalls), which are not an easy place to see a horse so we walked him up to a flat piece of land. I remember he had this incredible head on him.

"Stoker (the Duke of Devonshire), Douglas Erskine-Crum (Ascot`s chief executive) and I sat down in 1998 having seen other racecourses put together ownership groups to see what we could do. I suggested a club with amazing facilities and almost forgot about the horses I was so excited.

"But the horses have been the catalyst for people to have a chat at the club. I remember when the facilities were finished that Stoker said it would be great to have a winner at Ascot, we got that with the Michael Bell-trained Revenue, and now this.

"This horse is very, very special and it all been made even better thanks to Michael, who has been providing twice daily updates on the horse, which I`ve passed on to all the members."

Jockey Johnny Murtagh added: "I jumped out very well and was sitting in third coming down the hill when I couldn`t believe how easily he was going. At two out I gave him a smack and you saw what happened.

"Half a furlong out I had a sneaky peak behind but I just didn`t want to do anything too clever. It`s tricky to answer whether he is the best horse I`ve ridden but there`s a lot more to come."

Trainer Michael Bell added: "It`s been 17 long years waiting for this moment. We`ve had a pretty good graph, not having too many bad years, but to achieve this, getting the best out of a horse of this quality, shows you haven`t necessarily got to be one of the big battalions.

"You just hope nothing is going to go wrong in the days before hand, so many little things can happen, but luckily I knew I was sitting on a very good horse who had a good jockey.

"I actually enjoyed the race. Johnny had said beforehand that he was not going to sit too handy - I was a bit concerned but wasn`t going to interfere because Johnny knows what he`s doing.

"He`d never had a crack of the whip before today but showed great acceleration when he was hit today which will stand him in great stead if he has to meet the French Derby winner in the Irish Derby.

"We haven`t discussed options for the future, and it is a committee decision and not just down to me, but my call at the moment for the autumn target is the Arc.

"A lot has been made about him being very excitable but really he is no more so than a lot of other horses, he`s by no means a nutcase. He`s only had one serious piece of work since the Dante, you couldn`t do that with many horses.

"We were worried about Johnny being suspended today, although Darryll Holland was on standby, because he had played such a huge part in the preparation - without him we would have been a bit lost."

The Duke of Devonshire, Her Majesty`s Representative at Ascot, added: "To win a Derby is a dream for a syndicate that just has a few horses and we`ve picked the best team to be associated with them."

Responding to the debate about the horse`s ownership, Devonshire added: "The members all knew the deal when they got involved and everyone seems to be very happy now."

Motivator was bred by Saud Fustok at Deerfield Farm at Dullingham near Newmarket. "He is just the same today as I remember him as a foal and yearling," recalled Fustok. "I sent him to the sales with a reserve of 60,000gns and he fetched 75,000gns so I was delighted.

"I look at Patrick Brain`s advice and the mare went to Polish Precedent which didn`t work out and then we sent her to Montjeu. I have a yearling full-brother to Motivator and I haven`t yet decided whether to sell him later this year, I do keep some horses. The mare has been covered by Montjeu again.

"The stud was set up in 1991 and we now have 13 mares having only had 10 for a long time. I also bred High Accolade so to have produced him and a Derby winner from that number of mares is quite an achievement."

THE WINNER OF THE 226th VODAFONE DERBY - THE 3/1 FAVOURITE - MOTIVATOR (IRE) FACTFILE - The five-length winner 2m 35.69s

3 b c Montjeu (IRE) - Out West (USA) (Gone West (USA)) Owner: The Royal Ascot Racing Club Breeder: Deerfield Farm Form: 11-11 Trainer: Michael Bell Jockey: Johnny Murtagh

Motivator Bred at Deerfield Farm near Newmarket and a 75,000 guineas yearling purchase from Tattersalls, Motivator is by 1999 French and Irish Derby and Prix de l`Arc de Triomphe winner Montjeu and remains unbeaten after three starts. He was soon clear when winning a Newmarket maiden by six lengths from Sunday Symphony on his debut in August of last year before stepping up to the highest level in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster two months later, staying on strongly to justify favouritism by two and a half lengths from Albert Hall. Motivator was a leading fancy for the UltimatePoker.com 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on April 30 but, after working on April 12 over a mile on the summer gallop at Newmarket, where he pulled around six lengths clear of Cool Panic, connections decided to bypass the first British classic. This was because they felt that he was a mile and a quarter/mile and a half horse in the making. It proved a wise decision as Motivator won on his seasonal reappearance in the Group 2 totesport Dante Stakes at York over an extended 10 furlongs on May 12, coming home a length and a half clear of The Geezer despite hanging to the right in the final furlong. Johnny Murtagh has committed himself to an association with the three-year-old throughout the season and it was only on Wednesday after the Jockey Club reduced a ban he had received that Murtagh was able to take the Vodafone Derby ride. He wins the Vodafone Derby easily. Race Record: Runs: 4; 1st: 4; 2nd: -; 3rd: -. Win and Place Prize Money: �933,904

The Royal Ascot Racing Club The Royal Ascot Racing Club came into being towards the end of 1997 and was the brainchild of Harry Herbert who manages its horses. The idea of having luxurious facilities open to a limited number of members plus horses was taken up by Ascot Racecourse. Herbert is also managing director of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, the most successful racehorse multiple ownership operation in Europe. The Royal Ascot Racing Club has a current membership of 230, with a joining fee of �6,000 and an annual subscription of �4,700 (plus VAT in both cases) paid last year. The club had exclusive facilities at Ascot and continues despite the Berkshire racecourse being closed for complete redevelopment - there is no subscription this year and members pay if they want to use special facilities at Royal Ascot at York and at Epsom for the Vodafone Derby. The Club had its first runners in 1998 with half a dozen two-year-olds selected by Harry Herbert`s brother-in-law John Warren and trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam, Sir Michael Stoute and Richard Hannon. The Royal Ascot Racing Club includes some well-known figures like Lord Lloyd-Webber, Simon Cowell, Sir Clement Freud, Ken Bates, Chris Gent, Mel Smith, Lord Vestey, Chris Wright and prominent owners such as Peter Deal and Terry Neill. Brancaster was the Club`s first successful horse and he won the Group Three Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury and the following year ran in two classics, finishing fourth in the 2000 Guineas before coming 10th in the Vodafone Derby. Siege was also in the first crop of horses, coming second in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot and was also runner-up in the Magnet Cup at York. He was then sold for a significant amount of money to Sheikh Mohammed and went on to win a Group Three in Dubai. Bannister won the 2000 Gimcrack Stakes (Group Two) at York, while Revenue took the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2002. Tacitus was beaten half a length in the Group Three July Stakes at Newmarket and came fourth in an Italian Group One in 2002, while Supremacy won a Listed race at Ascot in 2003. The Michael Bell-trained Motivator won the 2004 Group One Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster last year and made a winning seasonal debut in the Group Two totesport Dante Stakes. He now has the members dreaming of glory in the Vodafone Derby. The Royal Ascot Racing Club has had six black-type performers carry its colours from 25 horses. The three horses racing this year for the Club are Motivator, Geometric with Richard Hannon and Vanish with David Loder. Vodafone Derby runners: Brancaster (1999 10th); MOTIVATOR (2005 WON)

Michael Bell Born in Bristol on October 10, 1960, Michael Bell caught the racing bug when at Stowe school, spending part of one holiday working for trainer Henry Candy, with whom his parents had horses. After school he prepared yearlings at the Haras d`Etreham in Normandy and then spent three years in the Life Guards, during which time he began riding as an amateur - winning five races, including aboard Ten Cherries at Sandown`s Grand Military meeting. After the army, he spent two-and-a-half years as assistant trainer to Mercy Rimell and three years in the same role with Paul Cole. In 1988, his final season with Cole, Pass The Peace, carrying the colours of Brian Bell, Michael`s father, won the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket. The Alzao filly, who had cost just 9,500 guineas as a yearling, provided Bell with his first winner as a trainer in the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury on April 14, 1989. Since then his major successes include the 1994 Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville with Hoh Magic, the 1993 Italian 1,000 Guineas with Ancestral Dancer, the 1994 Mill Reef Stakes with Princely Hush and the 2001 Italian Oaks with Zanzibar. His biggest recent triumphs have come courtesy of Motivator in last year`s Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster and this year`s Dante Stakes at York, Nevisian Lad in the TNT July Stakes at Newmarket in 2003 and Revenue in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot the previous year. He saddled Housemaster for a Highclere Thoroughbred Racing syndicate to finish fourth in the 1999 Vodafone Derby, going down by three lengths to Oath. He currently has around 100 horses in training at his Fitzroy House Stables just off Newmarket High Street. Vodafone Derby Record: 1995 Maralinga (15th); 1999 Housemaster (4th); MOTIVATOR (2005 WON)

Johnny Murtagh Born in Co Meath, Ireland, on May 14, 1970, Johnny Murtagh, who is married to Orla with two children, was apprenticed to John Oxx and became Irish champion apprentice in 1989. Weight problems forced him to relinquish his position as stable jockey to Oxx but Murtagh overcame those difficulties and in 1993 finished runner-up in the Irish jockeys` championship. In 1995, he became Irish champion jockey and has since gained international prominence, riding in Dubai during the winter (where he has been champion rider), winning the 1995 Breeders` Cup Mile on Ridgewood Pearl and the following year`s Beverly D Stakes on Timarida. He enjoyed a phenomenal international season in 2000, winning 12 Group Ones in six different countries, partnering Sinndar to victory in both the Vodafone Derby and Irish Derby and the Prix de l`Arc de Triomphe, winning the Irish Oaks, Yorkshire Oaks and Prix de l`Opera on Petrushka and the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes and Breeders` Cup Turf on Kalanisi among others. He was the most successful rider at Royal Ascot in 2001 with five wins, including the Gold Cup on Royal Rebel and St James`s Palace Stakes on Black Minnaloushe, aboard whom he also won the 2002 Irish 2,000 Guineas. He won the 2002 2000 Guineas for Aidan O`Brien on Sir Alex Ferguson`s Rock Of Gibraltar and landed a second Vodafone Derby aboard what again seemed the O`Brien second string, High Chaparral. In 2003 he won the Budweiser Irish Derby on Alamshar and took a break in the summer to sort out problems with his back and weight. He relinquished his position as stable jockey to John Oxx in 2004 and had a short-lived spell as stable jockey to David Loder. But, now principally riding for James Fanshawe, he is enjoying an excellent run as a freelance, landing a Group 1 treble aboard Soviet Song last year. Vodafone Derby Record: 1996 Double Leaf (10th); 1998 Sunshine Street (4th); 1999 All The Way (5th); 2000 SINNDAR; 2001 Dilshaan (7th); 2002 HIGH CHAPARRAL (WON); 2003 Alamshar (3rd); 2004 Salford City (5th); MOTIVATOR (2005 WON)