Lights out on Derby hero
His trainer Sir Michael Stoute said yesterday: “North Light has sustained a stress fracture of the right ilial wing and will now be retired.
“He has been a joy to train and we shall long remember his victories in the Dante Stakes and Epsom Derby.”
The son of Danehill won three times in seven starts and was ridden on six occasions by Kieren Fallon, including in his memorable victory over Rule Of Law at Epsom.
Fallon, who has won the premier Classic three times, said today North Light was his “favourite Derby horse”.
He added: “He had a great attitude and bags of speed for a horse who stayed so well.”
North Light won a Goodwood maiden on his second and last run as a juvenile and earned his trip to the Derby with a convincing victory in the Dante Stakes at York on his reappearance.
He never won again after Epsom, but he ran with credit to finish second to Grey Swallow in the Irish Derby, when the fast ground was blamed for his defeat.
He rounded off his three-year-old career with a close fifth behind Bago in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
