Percy Sinks Nelson For Dewhurst Glory Sir Percy held the late thrust of hot favourite Horatio Nelson to maintain his 100 per cent record in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. The Marcus Tregoning-trained winner, sent off at 9-2, had to be asked a serious question at the halfway stage by Martin Dwyer. But he stayed on to take over from Opera Cape inside the final furlong and pulled out more when Horatio Nelson (8-11) and Kieren Fallon - twice trapped in a pocket at a crucial stage - threw down his late challenge. He was a neck to the good at the line, with Opera Cape a length and half back in third. Having given Sir Percy a 80-day break since his last appearance in order to continue his mental and physical development, Tregoning was understandably delighted to see the colt land the Group One contest. He said: 'He´s been working very well at home and Martin has been telling me all week how confident he was. 'He just came off the bridle a bit at halfway but once he kicked on he really flew. 'I still think he´s a bit green but he´s learning with every race. There is improvement in him still to come and physically he is changing shape all the time. 'I think the ground is definitely quicker next to the stands rail so, to my mind, to win up the centre of the course is an even more impressive performance.' A son of 2000 Guineas winner Mark of Esteem, Sir Percy is a best-priced 20-1 chance with Cashmans (14-1 next best) to follow in his father´s hoofprints. And the same firm are also longest about his Vodafone Derby hopes, although Tregoning appeared uncertain over the chances of his charge - who he initially had some problems selling before Anthony and Victoria Pakenham stepping in - seeing out the mile-and-a-half trip. He said: 'Personally I would say a mile and a quarter would be fine but a mile and a half? We don´t know. He is out of a Blakeney mare which is a positive. 'He may well get it but he has got a lot of speed and I imagine we will go for the Guineas first. 'It´s probably a good job I managed to sell him because we got a few huge offers in the spring and I would have been tempted to say yes to them. 'We have talked about it since then and I am pretty sure he is not for sale now. We want to go all the way with him if we can.' Despite defeat, Horatio Nelson was also predictably cut in the betting for the Guineas and Derby. Trainer Aidan O´Brien said: 'He ran well. He ran a great race and was coming home really well.' Fallon added: 'It was a rough race all the way through.' Horatio Nelson only got the go-ahead to run shortly before the first race when stablemate George Washington was withdrawn. O´Brien explained: 'To have run him (George Washington) and to have given him a hard race in ground that he did not like at the end of a long season might just leave its mark. He will definitely not run again this year.' Sylvester Kirk, trainer of Opera Cape, said: 'It is probably the same level of form with Horatio Nelson (on their Longchamp running) but Sir Percy has come and beat the whole lot of us. 'He is tough and his form is the line between the lot of them. We are going to aim him at the Guineas and will start him off in one of the trials - the Greenham probably.'? PA Sport
