Sir Percy’s Breeder Ormesher Dies

Harry Ormesher, the breeder of 2006 G1 Epsom Derby winner Sir Percy (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {GB}), died Thursday following a short illness, according to Racing Post. Ormesher, who set up his breeding operation as Old Suffolk Stud in Hundon, bred Sir Percy as the last foal out of Percy’s Lass (GB) (Blakeney {GB}), who died of colic three weeks after Sir Percy was born in 2003. Sir Percy won the G2 Vintage S. and G1 Dewhurst S. in an unbeaten juvenile season for owners Anthony and Victoria Pakenham and trainer Marcus Tregoning. He finished second to George Washington (Danehill) in the G1 2000 Guineas on his sophomore bow and won the blue riband next out.

Robin Sharp of Houghton Bloodstock told Racing Post, “Harry achieved every breeder’s dream by breeding a Derby winner in Sir Percy. Unfortunately nothing went right after then, with mares not getting in foal and the commercial part of breeding not taking off, but Harry kept striving on. He gave everything to look after his horses, he loved them and there’s no doubt about that. I think it showed as he got a Derby winner, and you only get out what you put in.”

“It was very sad to hear he had passed on,” Houghton added. “He raised the profile of Hundon and we have a lot of people come by and speak about Sir Percy every day. We’ll all miss him in the village.”