IT’S A DERBY DILEMMA
PAGES OF FANTASTIC START WITH HORSE RACING
GINA MANGAN, who rides 1,000-1 shot Diore Lia in Saturday’s Derby, defends the filly’s participation in the race despite trainers believing the threeyear-old should not be running.
Mangan, who has only ridden one winner, said: “Just because she’s not rated as high as the rest of them it does not mean she can’t get involved.
“I’m not going to be in anyone’s way in as much as they’ll be in my way. I’ll be donating my riding fee, plus any prize-money to charity.”
Richard Aylward, the owner of Diore Lia who has finished unplaced in her two races, is using the occasion as a publicity stunt to generate publicity for the Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital.
But the training profession believe the filly, who is 1-8 to ® finish last with Paddy Power, should not be at Epsom.
Jane Chapple-Hyam, who took over the training of the filly last month, told Aylward that she was against running and consequently the three-year-old is now back with John Jenkins, her previous trainer.
Jenkins is not new to running no-hopers in the Derby. In 1994 he was responsible for the 500-1 shot Plato, a twice-raced maiden, and you guessed right – it finished plumb last.
Mark Johnston, the trainer of the fancied Permain, said: “It’s a very difficult one. I would hate to see restrictions on a race like the Derby.
“The most important thing about Group One competition is that it’s open to anybody – anybody that pays the money and wants to take their chance.
“Having said that, all credit to Jane Chapple-Hyam, who was willing to give up the horse and say ‘this horse should not be in the Derby’.
“That’s her opinion and I very much respect that she’s made that stance.
“I’m not going to say the rules should be changed or anything like that, but I’m surprised connections wanted to put an apprentice on a filly.
“The very best of fillies have struggled in the Derby and most people will say this filly shouldn’t be there.”
Newmarket trainer John Berry is against Diore Lia running.
“Every year there are quite a few no-hopers in Group races at big prices that finish tailed-off and once you start making a subjective decision about where you draw the line, it’s very tricky,” said Berry.
“For me the horse shouldn’t run, but connections shouldn’t be prohibited from running.”
Diore Lia’s participation has divided opinion but one thing you cannot dispute is that it has given the race an added interest.