Fop meaning had been blunted by this time. In the 1900s (decade), fictional heroes began to pose as fops to conceal their true activities. Sir Percy Blakeney of "The Scarlet Pimpernel" is a well-known example of this tendency; Sir Percy cultivates the image of being an overdressed and ineffectual social butterfly, the last person anyone would imagine being capable of dashing heroism. A similar image is cultivated by Zorro's public identity, Don Diego de la Vega. This continued with the pulp fiction and radio heroes of the 1920s and 1930s and expanded with the coming of comic books. The fashion and
Sir Percy the way and stayed on strongly in the closing stages to finish second, beaten two and a half lengths by George Washington. Sir Percy sustained a pulled muscle in training after the Guineas and his participation in the Derby was in some doubt, with Tregoning considering the less demanding Prix du Jockey Club as an alternative target. On 3 June he started 6/1 third favourite for the 2006 Epsom Derby. The French-trained colt Visindar was the 2/1 favourite, with Horatio Nelson the 11/2 second choice. Sir Percy was held up by Martin Dwyer in the early stages and was only