'Pour Moi' is the first French trained winner of the Derby since 'Empery' in 1976. Who rode 'Empery' in that race?
Empery Empery Empery (foaled 1973 in Kentucky) was an American-bred, French-trained racehorse best known for winning the 1976 Epsom Derby. In a racing career which lasted from September 1975 until July 1976 he ran eight times and won two races. Empery showed some good form in France to be placed third in the Prix Lupin but appeared to be some way below the best colts in his own country. He comfortably defeated the best of the British colts in the Derby to give his jockey Lester Piggott a seventh win in the race. Empery finished second in his only subsequent start
Pour Moi in the saddle in celebration just prior to the winning post. The Epsom stewards issued Barzalona with a warning for his behaviour as well as giving him a one-day ban for excessive use of the whip. The win made Pour Moi the first French-trained winner of the Derby since Empery in 1976. Fabre rested Pour Moi after his Derby win until August when the trainer began to work him in preparation for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October 2011, a race for which he was favourite. However, while exercising on 26 August he "badly over-reached himself on his