One of four challengers from Aidan O'Brien's Coolmore stable, Horatio Nelson looked to be sitting in a position to challenge coming into the last few furlongs under Kieren Fallon, but the horse dramatically pulled up lame half way down the straight.

O'Brien rushed off to accompany his horse in the ambulance straight after the race where the horse was found to have fractured a front leg.

"He's got a serious fracture but he's being well looked after by the people here. I can't thank them enough, " coowner John Magnier said.

"It's very serious but obviously they are going to do their best to save him. It's a matter for the experts now and I don't want to interfere with them now. It is serious, but we have to be hopeful.

They are trying to stabilise it. I couldn't be happier with the way he is being treated.

Everybody is trying to do their best for him."

On the lighter side of things, it was a glorious day for Tregoning and jockey Martin Dwyer who teamed up to bring home the winner in the most dramatic of finishes to win by a short head right on the line.

Jockey and horse only met for the first time last week, but they weren't long in forming the building blocks for a beautiful friendship as they combined to go one better than Sir Percy's impressive second to the incomparable George Washington a few weeks ago in the 2,000 Guineas.

"It all opened up for me but it's all down to one man, Marcus and his team, " a delighted Dwyer said. "It was a rough race and I had to go where I could to get a run. He pulled a muscle and was very sore after the Guineas. He missed a fair bit of work and I didn't see him until last week. He showed a tremendous turn of foot there. I'm so pleased.

It's fantastic."

"Everyone has done a great job with him at home (to get him back after the Guineas) . . .

my vet, physiotherapist and all the staff, " an equally excited Tregoning added. "I have to thank Sheikh Hamdan for this as he has allowed me to train the horse on his gallops and he has been really interested in all the work he has done.

"I got stopped for speeding on the way here and when I told the policeman I had a runner in the Derby, he said it had nothing to do with it! I did think that Hala Bek was going to get up but that was brilliant."

Tregoning's charge was towards the rear of the field charging down the hill towards Tattenham Corner as the front-running Dylan Thomas and Dragon Dancer kicked clear on the turn for home. But Hala Bek and Sir Percy came from out of the pack with determined challenges, although the former lost vital ground when jinking right in the closing stages.

There were no such problems for Sir Percy, however, and he ran straight up the rail to get his nose in front on the line from the maiden Dragon Dancer, a 66-1 shot, and O'Brien's other main hope, Dylan Thomas, battled on to claim third at 25-1 a head further back.

Dragon Dancer's trainer was proud of his charge's challenge though. "So near yet so far. He's a genuine staying horse, who is improving fast.

I told Darryll [Holland] to get up there early and get a position and take it from there, and he was going well all the way round until the last stride.

"I know where I'd like to go now . . . the Irish Derby . . . but he's not in it so we will have to see what the owners say about supplementing him."

Johnny Murtagh, who was on board Dylan Thomas, also had a great deal of praise for the riding performance of his peer. "He has run a good race to get third. He's had the run of the race and I thought he might do it. But fair play to Martin Dwyer for coming up the inside like that, " he said.

Michael Jarvis, trainer of Hala Bek was also forward looking despite obvious disappointment. "Something just happened in the last furlong. He changed legs. I don't know what made him jink but he would have won had he not done it. I would think he would go to the Curragh now.

There's plenty to look forward to."