The 1983 Derby, run at Epsom on June 1, was staged on unseasonably soft going after abormal spring weather, including notably high rainfall in England and Wales in April and May, led to the abandonment of several traditional Derby trials, including the Chester Vase.One trial that did take place, though, was the Lingfield Derby Trial, run on heavy going and won, in taking style, by Teenoso, owned by Eric Moller, trained by Geoff Wragg (in his first season since taking over the licence from his father, Harry, at Abingdon Place) and ridden by Steve Cauthen.
A confirmed mudlark, with proven stamina over a mile and a half and, following the defeat of Polished Silver, trained by Henry Cecil, in the Predominate Stakes at Goodwood, the choice of Lester Piggott in the Derby, Teenoso was, rather inevitably, sent off 9/2 favourite at Epsom. However, the market support proved well founded. Always prominent in the 21-strong field, Teenoso was sent into the lead with three furlongs remaining, soon went clear and never looked like being caught. Carlingford Castle stayed on past the weakening Guns Of Navarone inside the final furlong to finish second, as did Shearwalk, in third, but they were still three lengths and the same behind Teenoso at the line.
The winning time, 2:49.07, 17.74 seconds slower than the course record for the Derby, at Epsom, was the slowest recorded during the twentieth century. Nonetheless, Teenoso was a ninth Derby winner for Piggott, extending the record that he set with his seventh winner, Empery, in 1976 and extended with his eighth, The Minstrel, in 1977. Previously, Jem Robinson and Steve Donoghue had jointly held the record with six Derby winners apiece.
Teenoso stayed in training as a four-year-old, winning the Ormond Stakes at Chester, the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, on good to firm going, and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. At Ascot, on the fastest ground he had encountered, Teenoso faced the likes of Darshaan, Sadler’s Wells, Sun Princess and Time Charter but, having taken the lead with half a mile or so to run, was never headed and went on to win going away in what proved to be his last race.