Dubai Millennium was reported to have thrived after Goodwood and was sent to Epsom for the Derby, where he was made favourite, although his starting price of 5/1 reflected the open nature of a race in which many lightly raced, untested colts were entered. He pulled hard early on, and after making a brief effort early in the straight, finished ninth of the sixteen runners, beaten just over nine lengths by Oath. It was his only defeat and the only time he was tried over the mile and a half distance.