Fallon scotches suggestions he wasn’t happy with decision to allow Horatio Nelson run in Derby
The demise of the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt, who was pulled up and dismounted by Fallon in the home straight having suffered a serious leg injury, overshadowed one of the race's most exciting renewals.
O'Brien was at the stalls to supervise his four runners and could be seen in consultation with Fallon.
Speaking at Chantilly, the jockey was adamant that he and O'Brien had taken a joint decision that there was no reason not to let Horatio Nelson take his chance.
“I just felt that he was a little bit flat - he wasn't giving the same bounce that he had done,” said Fallon.
“But he was fine when I trotted him up and down a few times, in fact the more I trotted him the better he felt.
“I was happy with him. If I wasn't happy then I wouldn't have gone round on him. He travelled brilliantly in the race but then we went to go and challenge and it happened. Obviously it must have been one of the uneven bits of ground that you can get on the camber at Epsom. He twisted a joint and that did it.
“George Baker (riding Rising Cross in the Oaks the day before) did something at the same part of the straight. It doesn't take much when you are on the camber for a horse to lose its footing. The track rides like that - these things happen.”
Fallon paid tribute to the colt, who was sent off the second-favourite at Epsom on the strength of his top-class two-year-old form and a sparkling workout on the home gallops in the build-up to the race.
“It seems strange saying it now but he was one of the best little horses I have ever been around,” he said.
“He wanted to do everything for you, that was his biggest strength. They're the horses you want to be associated with - the ones with great temperament who can't do enough for you.”
Concerns about the horse’s soundness had emerged at the start when Fallion began trotting the colt around under the watchful eye of trainer Aidan O’Brien.
After consultation with a racecourse vet Horatio Nelson was allowed to take his chance.
He raced in touch with the leaders and was in seventh place with just under two furlongs to go when the horse stumbled and was immediately pulled up by Fallon.
The horse ambulance was quickly in attendance and the horse taken away for examination.
But it later transpired the colt’s injuries were too serious and he was put down.
A Horseracing Regulatory Authority statement said: “Horatio Nelson was examined at the start of the Derby by one of the racecourse veterinary surgeons who consulted Aidan O’Brien, who was present at the start.
“The veterinary surgeon and the trainer agreed that they were satisfied that Horatio Nelson was fit to compete.
“Following the race the horse was taken to the veterinary treatment centre and several X-rays were taken of the injured leg.
“They revealed that Horatio Nelson had suffered fractures of the cannon and sesamoid bones and a dislocation of the fetlock joint.
“Sadly the injuries were considered to be too severe to be repaired and the horse has therefore been euthanized.
“There was damage to the ligaments and nerves around the horse’s joints and with open wounds, which could already have been infected, there was a unanimous decision taken by the five vets present that it was a hopeless case and it was in the horse’s best interests to put him down.”
The vets were John Halley, the Coolmore vet, Peter Webbon and three racecourse vets.
Meanwhile Sir Percy could attempt a Classic double at the Curragh next month following his last-gasp success at Epsom. Connections will now consider the Irish equivalent, with a crack at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe later in the season also on the agenda.
Sir Percy is reported to be none the worse for his short-head triumph - despite an early-morning scare – and is a possible to travel to Ireland on July 2.
“We thought he wasn’t quite sound behind this morning but, through our bleary eyes, we found he’d only spread a hind shoe.
“He’s actually fine, lost very little weight and had eaten up his food by 9pm last night – he’s in good shape.
“I think we’ll probably go and stick to a mile and a half for the time being, with the Irish Derby a possibility.
“The other thing would be the Champion Stakes at Newmarket (October 14) or maybe even a crack at the Arc. The owners would like to go for it and if it came up on the easy side he’d handle it.”
