Derby winner Benny the Dip destroyed

Derby winner Benny The Dip has been humanely destroyed after fracturing his knee in an accident at Rathbarry Stud in Ireland, it emerged today.

The nine-year-old, who was victorious at Epsom in 1997, had only been at Rathbarry for about two weeks after being purchased from Cheveley Park Stud.

“He was very lame in the paddock one evening and it transpired that he had fractured his knee,” said a spokeswoman for the stud today.

“We’re devastated. He was the quietest horse of all time – he loved being out and we just don’t know what happened.

“He’d been out there every day at the same time for a full fortnight after coming, it wasn’t as if it was his first day since arriving.”

Trained by John Gosden throughout his racing career, the son of Silver Hawk got a vintage ride in the blue riband from Willie Ryan, just holding off Silver Patriarch in a desperately close finish.

As well as the Derby, he won four other races, most notably the Dante Stakes and Royal Lodge Stakes.

His progeny as a sire included Unleash, winner of the Northumberland Plate earlier this season.