VODAFONE Derby-winning stable groom John Kennedy, who hails from Didcot, has told of how Sir Percy fulfilled his dream by landing the Epsom Classic.

Speaking after parading Sir Percy at Tuesday's media open day at trainer Marcus Tregoning's Kingwood House Stables at Lambourn, Kennedy said: "It is every stable lad's dream to win the Derby.

"It is what everyone goes into the game for. You never better your first one even if you win it again.

"For a horse to be bought for 16,000gns as a yearling and win the Derby is a fairy-tale."

And yet when Kennedy sought career advice at St Birinus School, Didcot, a life in racing hadn't even entered his mind.

"I wanted to go into the Navy to travel the world," he said.

"But when I went to see the careers teachers they said 'you are too small to go into the Navy, have you thought about racing'."

But he was told he was too small and after it was suggested he try racing, he got a job with trainer Verley Bewicke at Chilton, near Didcot, and soon found he was in his element.

"I just took to it straightaway," he said. "I learnt to ride very quickly and I was riding out within a week."

He spent a year there, but was too small for Bewicke's National Hunt horses, and so moved on to Henry Candy's Flat racing stables at Kingstone Warren yard, near Wantage, riding ten winners from 300 rides.

His first winner came after 44 rides, aboard Vernon Street in a six-furlong handicap at Windsor, and he went on to ride ten winners for Candy from 300 rides.

He then had spells in France, Italy, Germany and Japan sandwiched around being travelling head lad to Mark Usher at Foxhill in Wiltshire.

Kennedy, who lives at Tregoning's yard with his wife Angie, was also head lad at Fulke Johnson Houghton's Blewbury stables, near Didcot, for five years before joining Tregoning four and a half years ago, and Kennedy was lucky enough to take over Sir Percy last October after his former groom joined Godolphin.

He took over Sir Percy last October, and was overjoyed when the son of Mark Of Esteem pipped Dragon Dancer by a short-head under Martin Dwyer in Saturday's Epsom Classic.

"I went mad and lost my voice," said Kennedy. "I was running round like something of Magic Roundabout."

Sir Percy's success was also a feather in the cap for Kirtlington Stud.

Stud manager Chris Budgett was a member of the syndicate which bought the son of Mark Of Esteem as a foal at the Tattersalls December Sales at Newmarket in 2003 for 20,000gns.

Sir Percy was brought up at the Oxfordshire stud for the next 11 months until he was sold as a yearling at the Tattersalls October Sale in 2004 for 16,000gns to agent Angie Sykes, who was working for Tregoning.

Budgett revealed he had the chance to retain a quarter-share in Sir Percy.

"You live to regret it, but I thought at the time it would be irresponsible to keep a quarter-share," he said philosophically.

"We lost 4,000gns on him, but at the same time people will realise that we can buy a decent horse."

Derby day was also memorable for Blewbury trainer Gerard Butler as Nayyir provided him with his first winner for five weeks when landing the Vodafone Diomed Stakes for a second time.

The eight-year-old gelding, winner of the Group 3 contest four years ago, came up trumps again under a fine ride from Frankie Dettori.

The Italian star produced the 11-2 chance with a late challenge to beat Boule D'Or by a neck, with Home Affairs, the 7-4 favourite, half a length back in third after meeting trouble in running.

A relieved Butler commented: "We ran a filly yesterday, Tarfah, and Nayyir today and I said if they don't run up to scratch I will be looking for a bridge to jump off.

"This guy digs us out of a hole all the time and all credit to our team to keep the old guy like this. This is one of his best performances."

Dettori added: "He likes to come between horses and Gerard said to me to wait as much as you can dare.

"I think I tested his patience there because I couldn't have waited much longer."

Johnson Houghton was also among the Epsom winners on Derby day when Beaver Patrol took the closing Vodafone Sprint Stakes.

Kerrin McEvoy powered the four-year-old into the lead in the final furlong, before holding off Prince Namid by a neck.