Sri Diamond was rated as short as 5/1 favourite in the ante post betting market for a repeat victory, but the 7 year old was surprisingly ommitted from the final declarations.
Sri Diamond's Trainer Sylvester Kirk On The Ommission
"He has got an infection in a hind leg. We had been struggling a bit with him as he had a bit of trouble with his joints since he last ran but he was fine and all ready to go - then out of the blue came this.
He was lame this morning and we couldn't declare him. He will probably be right again in three days and it came at just the wrong time - if it had been a day earlier, we could have declared him and taken a chance, but it is just too soon.
This had been the plan since he won the race last year and we've had a lot of tears this morning. We were so looking forward to it - it's very disappointing.
Something unconnected with the trouble we have been having has come along and scuppered us. He'll probably be OK in a few days.
He's always been a bit fragile and we had a bit of trouble with a joint the last time he ran. However, the vet had been very happy with him and it's just so frustrating.
The owners have been very patient with him. That's horses, but he lives to fight another day.
It depends what happens but we've got the Magnolia Stakes on the 7th (at Kempton). That will be our next plan of attack. It's not the Winter Derby but it's a nice consolation prize if we can get him back organised for that."
"He has got an infection in a hind leg. We had been struggling a bit with him as he had a bit of trouble with his joints since he last ran but he was fine and all ready to go - then out of the blue came this.
He was lame this morning and we couldn't declare him. He will probably be right again in three days and it came at just the wrong time - if it had been a day earlier, we could have declared him and taken a chance, but it is just too soon.
This had been the plan since he won the race last year and we've had a lot of tears this morning. We were so looking forward to it - it's very disappointing.
Something unconnected with the trouble we have been having has come along and scuppered us. He'll probably be OK in a few days.
He's always been a bit fragile and we had a bit of trouble with a joint the last time he ran. However, the vet had been very happy with him and it's just so frustrating.
The owners have been very patient with him. That's horses, but he lives to fight another day.
It depends what happens but we've got the Magnolia Stakes on the 7th (at Kempton). That will be our next plan of attack. It's not the Winter Derby but it's a nice consolation prize if we can get him back organised for that."
2007 Lingfield Winter Derby Runners
01 (07) Alfie Flits
02 (01) Blue Bajan (IRE)
03 (08) Boo
04 (06) Cimyla (IRE)
05 (03) Cusoon
06 (04) Gentleman's Deal (IRE)
07 (02) Grand Passion (IRE)
08 (10) Hattan (IRE)
09 (09) Illustrious Blue
10 (12) Mighty
11 (05) Orchard Supreme
12 (11) Speedy Sam
2007 Lingfield Winter Derby Betting & Race Selection
I am expecting the unbeaten on the all-weather Gentleman's Deal, who has pulled a decent draw position in stall 4, to justify the favouritism he is vying for along with Blue Bajan (11/2) and Illustrious Blue (13/2). Gentleman's deal is currently backable at a best price of 11/2 with Betfred, Chandlers and William Hills bookmakers.
update: 2007 Winter Derby Result.
1st Gentleman's Deal - P Mulrennan 4/1 JF
2nd Grand Passion - S Drowne 25/1
3rd Illustrious Blue - P Doe 11/1
2007 Winter Derby Ante Post Odds (william hills)
Illustrious Blue 4/1, Blue Bajan 9/2, Alfie Flits 5/1, Gentlemans Deal 11/2, Cusoon 8/1, Cimyla 9/1, Hattan 10/1, Orchard Supreme 12/1, Mighty 14/1, Grand Passion 14/1, Speedy Sam 50/1, Boo 66/1. (1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3)
Sandracer Related 2007 Winter Derby Posts
♠ Winter Derby Trials And The 2007 Derby Runners, Ante Post Odds And Result
Winter Derby Result Report
1st 6 Gentleman's Deal 9 0 P Mulrennan 4/1 JF
winner, soon led, steady pace headed over 6f out, remained prominent, led inside final furlong, ran on
2nd Neck 7 Grand Passion 9 0 S Drowne 25/1
held up, headway on outside over 1f out, ran on strongly, nearest finish
3rd Neck 9 Illustrious Blue 9 0 P Doe 11/1
in touch, headway over 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, stayed on well
4th Short Head 10 Mighty 9 0 J F Egan 10/1
soon prominent, lost place over 5f out, rallied and headway over 1f out, kept on well
5th Neck 2 Blue Bajan 9 0 M Hills 4/1 JF
tracked leaders, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, headed well inside final furlong
6th 1/2 length 3 Boo 9 0 N Callan 100/1
held up in touch, outpaced over 2f out, kept on under pressure final furlong
7th Dead Heat 4 Cimyla 9 0 G Baker 10/1
lonely into stride, behind, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, soon one pace
8th Neck 11 Orchard Supreme 9 0 R Hughes 20/1
held up in rear, headway final furlong, never nearer
9th Neck 5 Cusoon 9 0 J Fortune 8/1
in touch, short of room inside first furlong, soon mid-division, hampered over 2f out, soon not clear run, headway over 1f out, kept on
10th 1 1/2 length 8 Hattan 9 0 S Sanders 9/1
held up mid-division, took closer order over 4f out, soon with leader, weakened over 1f out
11th 1 1/2 length 1 Alfie Flits 9 0 J P Spencer 9/2
behind, headway to lead over 6f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened quickly final furlong
12th Short Head 12 Speedy Sam 9 0 P Cosgrave 28/1
tracked leaders, lost place well over 2f out