Percy Future Up In The Air

Vodafone Derby hero Sir Percy could have run his last race, according to trainer Marcus Tregoning.

The Mark Of Esteem colt enjoyed his finest hour when triumphing by the narrowest of margins at Epsom last summer but has failed to get his head in front in four subsequent starts.

And while retirement to stud looked likely after he finished last of six behind Manduro at Royal Ascot, Tregoning explained nothing has been conclusively decided just yet.

'It´s always going to be a possibility that he may not race again because we´ve got to think about the future for him ? and that´s plenty of wives hopefully,' he said.

'The hope is he´ll get plenty of mares in foal on good stud farms. He was the bargain of all time and it was an amazing story, especially as he was an orphaned horse.

'We haven´t made a firm decision, and sometimes with a break horses can come back. We´ll just have to give it some time and think about what we´re doing.

'It would be a very difficult decision to make as people have to remember he was a very, very good two-year-old ? the best in this country.

'But he did have his problems and sometimes that just takes its toll on some horses.'

If Sir Percy does make it back to the track, Tregoning has confirmed it will not be until the autumn.

'I´m giving him a break now. His run in Dubai was very encouraging and he picked up some nice prize money so the hope was all would be well for this year,' he told At The Races.

'It hasn´t worked out so I´m just going to sit back and wait with him, but it might well be he´ll come back in the autumn.'

(C) PA Sport