Kirtlington Stud manager Chris Budgett has spoken of his pride at playing a part in the Sir Percy success story.

Budgett was a member of the syndicate which bought the Vodafone Derby hero 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 Lambourn trainer Marcus Tregoning.

Budgett recalls being impressed by the son of Mark Of Esteem during his time at Kirtlington Stud where Derby winners Blakeney and Morston were bred before being trained by Budgett's father, Arthur, at Whatcombe, near Wantage, to claim Epsom's blue riband.

"He was an exceedingly nice foal, although he had an unfashionable sire," said Chris Budgett, who specialises in pinhooking buying horses as foals to resell them as yearlings.

"He had the right attitude the only thing he did lack was a bit of size.

"He is still not a particularly big horse, but what he lacked in size he made up for in strength.

"As the overall package goes he was a cracking little horse."

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

"That sales season the market took a dip and we secured a bit on the sale," he said philiosophically.

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

"Sometimes you regret your decisions, but such is life.

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

Budgett, who also pinhooked Aussie Rules, winner of this year's Gainsborough Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas), admitted to getting carried away when Sir Percy made his run for glory under Martin Dwyer at Epsom.

"I was jumping up and down on the sofa," he said. "It was very exciting.

"I think he is a far better horse than they are giving him credit for."