Derby Winner Dr Devious Dead

Dr Devious (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}-Rose Of Jericho, by Alleged), winner of the 1992 G1 Epsom Derby, has died in Italy at age 29, according to Racing Post.

Trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam initially for Robert Sangster, Dr Devious won the Listed Superlative S. and G3 Vintage S. before Sangster sold him to Italian owner Luciano Gaucci. Dr Devious won the G1 Dewhurst S. in Gaucci's colours but was promptly sold on once again, this time to American Sidney Craig with an eye on a win in the GI Kentucky Derby. That plan didn't pan out, with Dr Devious finishing seventh behind Lil E. Tee (At The Threshold), with Chapple-Hyam later revealing the horse had run in the wrong shoes, but he redeemed himself just a month later with a two-length win over St Jovite (Pleasant Colony) at Epsom. St Jovite turned the tables in the Irish Derby, but Dr Devious got another tally over his rival in the G1 Irish Champion S., and would go on to run in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, GI Breeders' Cup Turf and G1 Japan Cup before season's end. Dr Devious later stood in Japan, Ireland and finally Italy, making little impact on the breed. He did, however, sire Collier Hill (GB), winner of the G1 Hong Kong Vase, GI Canadian International and G1 Irish St Leger, as well as the G1 Prix de l'Opera winner Kinnaird (Ire), the dam of group winner Berkshire (Ire) (Mount Nelson {GB}).

Chapple-Hyam told Racing Post, “You should never compare your friends, but Dr Devious was as good a horse as I ever had. He was also a smashing horse to be around. I don't think he ever bit anyone, and he certainly never kicked anyone. There was never any malice in him whatsoever.”

Of the Derby win, Chapple-Hyam added, “I was very, very confident on the day because he had all the attributes you would want. He had speed and stamina, and he was the right build for the track. He was also a horse who always wanted to give you everything, and I felt that all I had to do was keep him out of trouble. I had plenty of horse under me turning in and I'll never forget the feeling I got passing the post in front.”