Percy could bid for more Derby glory

Sir Percy could attempt a Classic double at the Curragh next month following his last-gasp success in the Vodafone Derby at Epsom.

Connections will now consider the Budweiser-sponsored Irish equivalent, with a crack at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe later in the season also on the agenda.

Marcus Tregoning’s charge collared Dragon Dancer in a thrilling finish which saw the first four horses home separated by just half a length.

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.

“It was a rough race but I’m amazed by him,” said Tregoning, who was assistant to the late Dick Hern when he won the Derby with Nashwan in 1989.

“He’s a streetfighter and a warrior and it is quite extraordinary how he fights like he does.

“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.”

Tregoning initially felt Sir Percy, runner-up to the brilliant George Washington in the 2000 Guineas on his penultimate outing, had finished second given the remarkable proximity of the principals in one of the most absorbing renewals of the Derby in recent times.

“I must say it was so close and such a rush to the line I thought maybe we’d been beaten by Hala Bek,” he told At The Races.

“From my angle I thought we’d maybe just got touched off.”

Even driving down to Epsom before the race provided its fair share of drama for Tregoning after he was pulled over for speeding by a policeman.

But after narrowly avoiding a ticket and a fine, the Lambourn-based handler completed the rest of the journey without ncident before picking up the biggest prize of them all in Flat racing.

“I was thinking about the race so much that I wasn’t thinking about what I was doing and took a couple of wrong turns. I had to put my foot on it after that and got pulled over as a result,” he said.

“I was lucky I didn’t get a ticket but we got there and got the job done, thank goodness.

“We were all wound up for the full day and had a really nice party with all the staff and had a really good night.

“I’m a bit worse for wear now but it was definitely worth it.”

Plans remain fluid for Dragon Dancer, who defied his maiden status and 66-1 price tag to come agonisingly close to success, although the Irish Derby is under consideration.

Trainer Geoff Wragg said: “He’s thankfully sound, which is the main thing. I was watching in the weighing room and when they went past the post I thought we had won.

“Things are still up in the air so we will have to wait and see about what’s next.”

Jockey Darryll Holland added: “Since I was a boy in Manchester I have dreamed of winning this race so I was just so upset and couldn’t speak after the race.

“I thought I’d won and Johnny Murtagh (who rode third-placed Dylan Thomas) even came up to congratulate me.

“I don’t know running plans now but I understand the Irsh Derby could be an option. But the Derby is a tough race and can take a lot out of a horse.

“Hopefully we’ll win the Irish Derby with him now – and he should be a good thing in a maiden.”

Unlucky fourth Hala Bek is likely to be supplemented for the Irish equivalent.

Michael Jarvis was left to reflect on what could have been in the premier Classic after the son of Halling inexplicably jinked right as he mounted his challenge deep inside the final furlong.

“He’s fine and has eaten everything. He has trotted up well,” reported Jarvis. “He looks a bit tired but apart from that he’s fine.

“It’s just one of those unfortunate things. We don’t know why the horse jinked, I suppose it would have to go down to inexperience.

“I would presume, and we’ve only briefly discussed this, that with the agreement of the owner (Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum), he would be supplemented for the Irish Derby.

“He genuinely stays a mile and a half and did well on that ground.”

Connections of Visindar, who was sent off the 2-1 favourite but finished only fifth for French handler Andre Fabre, are also considering sending the colt to the Curragh.

Georges Rimaud, racing manager to owner the Aga Khan, said: “He is well and has come out of the race good. I have not seen him but understand he is okay.

“He ran well but obviously lacked experience in this sort of race.

“I think it just shows that a strong challenge is something different to what he is used to.

“The Irish Derby could certainly be an option but we will wait a couple of days before making a firm decision.”