Never Say Die (horse) 33/1 outsider in a field of twenty-two runners for the Derby. According to some accounts, he would have started at even longer odds if his memorable name and the publicity attracted by his eighteen-year-old jockey Lester Piggott had not made him a popular choice with many members of the public. The colt was always well-placed and was sent into the lead early in the straight by Piggott. He won comfortably by two lengths from Arabian Night and Darius. Clark was ill in New York hospital and unable to attend the race, which saw Never Say Die becoming the first American-bred
Shaamit of 20/1 and showed some inexperience ("ran green") in finishing fourth of the twenty runners. On 4 November, he reappeared in another maiden race over one mile at Doncaster and started 13/8 favourite in a field of twenty-three. He took the lead a furlong from the finish and won by three and a half lengths. Shaamit was not among the original entries for the 1996 Epsom Derby. In April, Haggas's father-in-law Lester Piggott rode the colt in an exercise gallop and described the colt as "marvellous" and a potential Derby winner. As a result, Shaamit was added to the Derby