A SAD END TO THE LIFE OF 'PERCY'

Graham Buddry reflects on the highs and lows of O'Sullivan favourite Attivo

- Graham Buddry

The chances are that most readers of this column have never heard of this month's subject.

There will be some, however, who will give a little nod and a wry smile accompanied by the thought; "I remember him". Owned by the great racing commentator of yesteryear, Peter O'Sullivan, let's take a look today at Attivo.

With the retirement of his excellent sprinter, Be Friendly, Peter O'Sullivan branched out and bought a brood mare who was already in foal to the Italian Derby winner, Appiani II. When the foal was eventually born he was so small that one of O'Sullivan's friends mused that if he grew big enough he could race at White City greyhound stadium. Apart from that the colt was exceptionally narrow, had out-turned feet and a parrot mouth but he also had a bold and inquisitive eye. With an Italian father he was given the name Attivo, meaning active and busy in that language.

Sent in due course to Epsom trainer Cyril Mitchell he barely arrived in one piece. He was so agitated before the flight from Ireland to Heathrow that he had to be strongly sedated and when that wore off he demolished the horse box taking him to his new home and arrived very bloody, battered and bruised.

Despite such a traumatic experience he fully ate up when offered an evening meal.

"Percy", as he was known in the yard, raced twice on the flat at Windsor in 1972 without distinction. A series of selling races followed for the two year old to no avail, including an old fashioned coup in an easy looking event at Kempton where he was "lumped on" from 5/2 to odds on in a small field but could finish no closer than third after fighting his jockey most of the way.