PROPOSED HANGS ON IN HEADLINE MILADY...p5 NEWS For information about TDN, DELIVERED EACH NIGHT BY FAX AND FREE BY E-MAIL TO SUBSCRIBERS OF call 732-747-8060. www.thoroughbreddailynews.com SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 2006 DRAMA ON THE DOWNS THE NAME GAME There were four horses on the line at the finish of the With major contenders from Britain, Ireland and Ger- 227th renewal of yesterday=s G1 Vodafone Derby at many in the line-up for today=s G1 Prix du Jockey-Club Epsom Downs, but attention was at Chantilly, Paul Vidal=s Best Name (GB) (King's Best) torn between the victorious Sir faces a stern test, but the easy Percy (GB) (Mark of Esteem option has never been a consid- {Ire}), and the stricken Horatio eration for this colt. The bay Nelson (Ire) (Danehill), who broke made just one start at two, and down as the field raced toward justified his stable=s confidence the wire. Horatio Nelson frac- when running just a short head tured the cannon bone and behind Linda's Lad (GB) in the sesamoids of his right front leg G3 Prix de Conde at Longchamp and had to be euthanized. The in October. He returned to record tragedy left a pall over the gallant a comfortable success in the triumph of Sir Percy, who drove Listed Prix de Courcelles at Robert Collet APRH up the rail to earn a short-head Longchamp Apr. 9, and bids to verdict over the 66-1 maiden provide conditioner Robert Collet with an overdue first Sir Percy Getty Images Dragon Dancer (GB) (Sadler=s Jockey-Club. AAfter his return...I thought for a moment Wells), with pacesetter Dylan Thomas (Ire) (Danehill) a of running him in the G3 Prix de Guiche, but I left him head back in third and Hala Bek (Ire) (Halling) another fresh,@ he told Paris-Turf. AHe worked superbly on Tues- short head away in fourth. Vodafone Derby cont. p2 day and I was really satisfied. His exercise has left me confident. I want a truly run race without any excuses, Saturday, Epsom, Britain as Best Name will stay 2100 meters, and I=ve known VODAFONE DERBY S.-G1, ,1,250,000, Epsom, 6-3, for a long time that he is a very 3yo, c/f, 12f 10ydsT, 2:35.23, gd/fm. gifted colt. No Classic stone is 1--SIR PERCY (GB), 126, c, 3, by Mark Of Esteem (Ire) @ 1st Dam: Percy's Lass (GB) (GSW-Eng), by Blakeney (GB) left unturned by the might of 2nd Dam: Laughing Girl (GB), by Sassafras (Fr) Ballydoyle, and in Susan 3rd Dam: Violetta (Ity), by Pinza (GB) Magnier, Michael Tabor and (20,000gns wnlg >03 TATDEC; 16,000gns yrl >04 Faisal Salman=s G1 Poule d=Essai TATOCT). O-Anthony E Pakenham; B-The Old Suffolk des Poulains winner Aussie Rules Stud; T-Marcus Tregoning; J-Martin Dwyer; Aussie Rules Scoop Dyga (Danehill), the operation has a ,740,695. Lifetime Record: 6-5-1-0, ,1,013,343. strong player. He is bred to go *1/2 to Blue Lion (GB) (Lomond), GSP-Eng. the extra distance and was finishing with effect when 2--Dragon Dancer (GB), 126, c, 3, Sadler's Wells-- beating Marcus Andronicus (Ire) by a half length in the Alakananda (GB), by Hernando (Fr). (200,000gns yrl mile Classic. >04 TATOCT). O-J L C Pearce; B-Kirsten Rausing & Abbey Bloodstock; T-Geoff Wragg; ,280,728. FOG CLEARS AT CHURCHILL 3--Dylan Thomas (Ire), 126, c, 3, Danehill--Lagrion, by Champion Lost in the Fog (Lost Diesis (GB). O-Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; Soldier), beaten in the GI Breeders= B-Tower Bloodstock; T-Aidan O=Brien; ,140,495. Cup Sprint and in his 2006 debut, Margins: SHD, HD, SHD. Odds: 6-1, 66-1, 25-1. Also Ran: Hala Bek (Ire), Visindar (GB), Best Alibi (Ire), Sixties Icon (GB), was back in the winner=s circle yes- Mountain (Ire), Linda’s Lad (GB), Papal Bull (GB), Championship Point (Ire), terday, posting a 1 1/4-length victory Septimus (Ire), Before You Go (Ire), Sienna Storm (Ire), Atlantic Waves (Ire), in the GIII Aristides Breeders= Cup H. Snoqualmie Boy (GB), Noddies Way (GB). DNF: Horatio Nelson (Ire). Reed Palmer at Churchill Downs. Aristides cont. p6 TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 6/4/06 • PAGE 2 of 11 Epsom Derby cont. Horatio Nelson Euthanized... How It Was Won... Trainer Aidan O=Brien expressed concern as to the Unbeaten at two, Sir Percy captured the G2 Vintage soundness of 11-2 second favorite Horatio Nelson prior S. In July before beating Horatio Nelson in the G1 to the start of the race, but after consultation with the Dewhurst S. in October. He racecourse vet, the colt was given the go-ahead. The was put firmly in his place by colt was in mid-division under Kieren Fallon when he George Washington on his suffered a catastrophic injury to his right front leg and return in the 2000 Guineas, could not be saved. AHoratio Nelson was examined at and exited the race with sev- the start of the Derby by one of the racecourse veteri- eral pulled muscles. After a nary surgeons who consulted Aidan O'Brien, who was short period of rehabilitation, present at the start,@ a Horseracing Regulatory Author- he was back to his enthusias- Actionplus ity statement read. AThe veterinary surgeon and the tic self on the home slopes trainer agreed that they were satisfied that Horatio and showed his well-being with his usual exuberance at Nelson was fit to compete. Following the race the Epsom yesterday. Settled towards the outer of the horse was taken to the veterinary treatment center and peleton in mid-division early, Sir Percy lacked room in several X-rays were taken of the injured leg. Sadly, the the straight as Dylan Thomas and Dragon Dancer bat- injuries were considered to be too severe to be repaired tled it out up front. Passing the ill-fated Horatio Nelson and the horse has therefore been euthanized.@ Top-class at the quarter pole, he was gifted a rail run as Dylan at two, Horatio Nelson won the G3 Superlative S., G2 Thomas drifted right in the closing stages. Hala Bek, Futurity S. and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, and fin- closing on the outside, sacrificed his chance when he ished a neck runner-up to Sir Percy in the Dewhurst S. ducked sharply right in the shadow of the wire, and it He earned ,284,236. was left to Sir Percy to shoot through on the rail and grab the spoils in the final stride. AI was always confi- dent in him and I knew I had a horse good enough to win a Derby,@ winning jockey Martin Dwyer said. AI was a little further back than I wanted to be, [but] I had to go where I was getting the run, and it all opened for me. They went very quick, so I was confident that I=d pick up. He dug deep and quickened really well--he was tough and determined.@ Click for the racingpost.co.uk chart or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. Hard Luck Story... www.taylormadefarm.com For Philip Robinson, aboard Hala Bek, it was a case of what might have been in the 227th Derby. AI thought I=d got the race won and I=d just come to go past the GII Milady H. Proposed (Benchmark) hangs on gamely front two when he jinked away and went to go across to take it by a nose. the track," Robinson said. AI don=t know whether it was GII Nassau H. Naissance Royale (Ire) (Giant=s through greenness or immaturity, but for a second I Causeway) closes for her second graded score. thought I was going to part company. Had it happened GIII Aristides H. Champion Lost in the Fog (Lost 100 yards earlier, I could have got him back balanced Soldier) gets back to the winner s circle. and probably won, but at that point it was all over.@ = TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 6/4/06 • PAGE 3 of 11 Prix du Jockey-Club cont. From across the Channel, Bill Gredley=s Olympian Gestut Rottgen=s Aspectus (Ire) (Spectrum {Ire}), Odyssey (GB) (Sadler=s Wells) brings British Classic representing Germany in the G1 Prix du Jockey-Club, form to the contest, having finished third in the May 6 warrants respect, having won the G3 Preis des G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. AThe trip of the Winterfavoriten at Cologne in October before returning French Derby is just a nice step up for him,@ jockey to take the Apr. 23 Dr Busch-Memorial at Krefeld. The Jamie Spencer said. AIt's only an extra couple of fur- colt finished second in the G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen longs, rather than another half a mile like it would have back at Cologne last time May 14. been in our Derby.@ Sunday, Chantilly, France, post time: 5:35 p.m. PRIX DU JOCKEY CLUB MITSUBISHI MOTORS-G1, i1,500,000, 3yo, c/f, 1 5/16mT SC PP HORSE OWNER BREEDER TRAINER/JOCKEY 1 3 Champs Elysees (GB) Khalid Abdullah Juddmonte Farms Fabre (Danehill--Hasili {Ire}, by Kahyasi {Ire}) Pasquier 2 7 Darsi (Fr) H H The Aga Khan H H The Aga Khan’s Studs SC de Royer-Dupre (Polish Precedent--Darashandeh {Ire}, by Darshaan {GB}) Soumillon 3 11 Hazeymm (Ire) Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid al Maktoum Darley Channon (Marju {Ire}--Shimna {GB}, by Mr. Prospector) Durcan 4 2 Numide (Fr) Ecurie I M Fares Haras de Manneville Rouget (Highest Honor {Fr}--Numidie {Fr}, by Baillamont) Mendizabal 5 10 Aspectus (Ire) Gestut Rottgen Gestut Rottgen Blume (Spectrum {Ire}--Anna Thea {Ire}, by Turfkonig {Ger}) de Vries 66 Olympian Odyssey (GB) W J Gredley Grundy Bloodstock SRL B Hills (Sadler=s Wells--Field of Hope {Ire}, by Selkirk) Spencer 7 9 Art Deco (Ire) Mrs Evelyn Hankinson C H Wacker III Egerton (Peintre Celebre--Sometime {Ire}, by Royal Academy) Dettori 8 4 Barastraight (GB) M Keller Serge Boucheron Rouget (Barathea {Ire}--Straight Lass {Ire}, by Machiavellian) Kinane 9 14 Hello Sunday (Fr) Mme M Leurson EARL Haras du Camp Benard Head-Maarek (Poliglote {GB}--Hello Molly {Fr}, by Sillery) Jarnet 10 15 Hurricane Cat Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor Pacelco SA A O=Brien (Storm Cat--Sky Beauty, by Blushing Groom {Fr}) McCabe 11 1 Aussie Rules S Magnier, M Tabor & F Salman Belgrave Bloodstock Ltd A O=Brien (Danehill--Last Second {Ire}, by Alzao) Fallon 12 5 Fenice (Ire) R C Strauss Kilfrush Stud Rob Collet (Woodman--Venize {Ire}, by Kaldoun {Fr}) Auge 13 13 Arras (Ger) Baronne Karin von Ullmann Gestut Schlenderhan Fabre (Monsun {Ger}--Avocette {Ger}, by Kings Lake) Peslier 14 8 Irish Wells (Fr) Berend van Dalfsen Eight International Racing Ltd Rohaut (Poliglote {GB}--Sign of the Vine {Fr}, by Kendor {Fr}) Boeuf 15 12 Best Name (GB) Paul Vidal Newsells Park Stud Rob Collet (King=s Best--Flawly {GB}, by Old Vic {GB}) Lemaire All carry 128 pounds.