Friday, May 30, 2003

LADBROKES EARLY PRICES FOR TOMORROW

BIGGEST SCOOP6 ROLLOVERS OF THE YEAR TRAVEL TO NEWMARKET WINDSOR AND MUSSELBURGH

"Big rollovers have been a theme of the last week with the Jackpot pool reaching a massive £432,000 at Sandown on Tuesday and now the biggest combined Scoop6 rollover of the year so far is on offer this Saturday," said Tote spokesman Jeremy Scott.

"With three courses making up the six legs of the bet, punters will have a few extra variables to factor into their Scoop6 selections, and there are likely to be some well thumbed copies of the racing pages tomorrow."

"However the extra studying will be more than worth it as a single winner tomorrow going on to land the Bonus Prize fund next Saturday will be looking at a total Scoop6 haul of around £350,000."


Saturday's Scoop6 legs are:

leg 1 - 2.00 Newmarket
leg 2 - 2.15 Windsor
leg 3 - 2.30 Newmarket
leg 4 - 2.50 Windsor
leg 5 - 3.25 Musselburgh
leg 6 - 3.40 Newmarket

STAGE IS SET FOR BRILLIANT RENEWAL OF EUROPE'S RICHEST RACE

The race's £1.2 million prize fund looks set to be considerably swelled at Monday's supplementary entry stage. Kris Kin, the mount of champion jockey Kieren Fallon, looks set to be added to the field at a cost of £90,000 as is Dutch Gold, who bids to give veteran Newmarket trainer Clive Brittain a first Vodafone Derby success. Norse Dancer, rated by owner Jeff Smith as potentially the best horse he has ever had, could also be added to the field while the Marcus Tregoning-trained High Accolade is a possible but far from certain fourth supplementary entry. All the supplementary entry fees are added straight into the prize fund.

Stephen Wallis, Epsom Down's Managing Director, said: "There is a real buzz around the Downs and everybody is looking forward to next week. With three supplementary entries, the Vodafone Derby would be worth £1.47 million, making it by far the richest race run in Europe. This is only possible due to the sporting nature of the three sets of owners who are set to enter at the supplementary stage.

"Their contribution and the smaller contributions from all the other owners who entered their horses as yearlings or at the three-year-old stage is very much appreciated."

The unbeaten Refuse To Bend bids to become the first Sagitta 2000 Guineas winner since 1989 to go on to glory in the premier classic while the ante-post second-favourite Alamshar comes into the race with impeccable credentials. His trainer John Oxx has a 100 per cent record in the Vodafone Derby while the Aga Khan, in whose colours Alamshar runs, bids to become the joint most successful owner in the race's history. The Aga Khan has already won the race with Shergar (1981), Shahrastani (1986), Kahyasi (1988) and Sinndar (2000) and he bids to emulate his grandfather, the third Aga Khan, and the Earl Of Egremont who each won the world's greatest race five times.

No less than 15 different trainers have saddled the Vodafone Derby winner for two consecutive years, but nobody since the race was first run in 1780, has completed a hat-trick - a feat that Aidan O'Brien will attempt on Saturday, June 7, following the triumphs of Galileo in 2001 and High Chaparral last season. The O'Brien-trained Brian Boru has been well-backed for the premier classic in recent weeks and he could be joined in the line-up by up to four stablemates including Pat Eddery's mount The Great Gatsby.

Shield, winner of the Sandown Park Classic Trial, had a workout at Epsom Downs on Wednesday under big-race pilot Eddie Ahern while the Mark Tompkins-trained Franklins Gardens has done nothing wrong this season having won trials at Epsom and Lingfield. The Terry Mills-trained Let Me Try Again, who Franklins Gardens beat in the Lingfield trial last time out, bids to keep the race in Epsom for the first time since April The Fifth won for Tom Walls in 1932. Frankie Dettori is still searching for a first Vodafone Derby winner but the bookmakers rate his likely mount New South Wales a 33/1 chance to end that quest.

QUEEN'S STAND SOLD OUT

The Queen's Stand is sold out on both Friday and Saturday and all two-day badges have now been sold. But there will be tickets available on both days for the Grandstand Enclosure, which - following the disbandment of the temporary Club Enclosure - will give access to the whole Grandstand. Tickets can be booked by calling 01372 470047 or on www.epsomderby.co.uk

ENTERTAINMENT FOR EVERYONE

There will be a whole host of entertainments at the Vodafone Derby meeting with free live music on Saturday from the likes of Spandau Ballet frontman Tony Hadley, Peter Cox of Go West, Hot Chocolate and Dusty Springfield impersonator Karen Nobel while Bjorn Again will play after racing. The crowds will also be entertained by magicians, stilt-walkers, magicians, celebrity lookalikes and the Spitfire Tigers freefall parachute team.

MAGISTRETTI (USA) FACTFILE

b c Diesis - Ms Strike Zone (USA) (Deputy Minister (CAN))
Form: 1225-11 Owner: Michael Tabor
Trainer: Neville Callaghan Breeder: Tri-County Farms LLC

Magistretti
Diesis colt Magistretti, who realised $150,000 as a foal and was bought for Ir£170,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale as a yearling, made a winning racecourse bow at Sandown in June, when justifying favouritism to take a seven-furlong maiden by three lengths from Cayman Venture. The following month he was stepped up in class in the Listed Weatherbys Superlative Stakes run over the same trip at Newmarket, finding just Surbiton five lengths too strong. He again filled the runner-up position on his next start in a seven-furlong conditions event at Doncaster in September, this time going down by two and a half lengths to Maghanim. On his final juvenile start, he finished five lengths fifth behind Al Jadeed in the Group Two Hackney Empire Royal Lodge Stakes on the mile course at Ascot in September. He began his classic season in perfect fashion at Newmarket on April 17, winning the nine-furlong Listed bet365 Feilden Stakes by a head from Dunhill Star with a further eight lengths back to the third Excelsius.

Punters at York on May 14 clearly thought that Dunhill Star would reverse the form with Magistretti over the additional furlong and a half of the Group Two Tote Dante Stakes, making the former favourite, while Magistretti was allowed to go off at 8/1. The betting market proved no indication of what was to happen in the race with Magistretti beating Tuning Fork by half a length with another length and a quarter back to Dunhill Star. The winner now bids to retain his unbeaten status as a three-year-old in the Vodafone Derby. Race Record: Runs: 6 1st: 3; 2nd: 2; 3rd: 0 Win & Place Prize Money: £117,377

Michael Tabor
Tabor was born in the East End of London on October 28, 1941, but is now a resident of Monte Carlo with a reputed £20-million house in Barbados, and a $27-million yacht, and - in partnership with Coolmore Stud supremo John Magnier - he has enjoyed enormous success on the racecourse in recent years in both Europe and North America, investing millions at the major bloodstock sales. The financial foundation for this came from the sale of his Arthur Prince betting shop chain and an on-course bookmaking division for a reputed £28 million to Coral in September, 1995. Tabor, who was once linked with the purchase of his beloved West Ham football club, now speculates in the currency markets and owns a major stake in the Victor Chandler bookmaking firm. His wealth was recently estimated at £400 million by the Sunday Times. Entrepreneur, trained by Michael Stoute, took the 1997 Sagitta 2000 Guineas and provided the Tabor/Magnier team with a first British classic success, and they also won that season's Irish equivalent and Irish Derby with Desert King. Tabor first tasted classic glory with Thunder Gulch in the 1995 Kentucky Derby. Other major wins include the 1998 Sagitta 2000 Guineas with King Of Kings, the 1999 French Derby, Irish Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe plus the 2000 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes with Montjeu and a run of five consecutive Group 1 successes in 2000 from Giant's Causeway. But none of this quite compared with 2001 which saw Galileo win the Vodafone Derby, Irish Derby and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, Milan land the St Leger, Mozart become champion sprinter, and the owners totally dominated the two-year-old division, led by the Breeders' Cup Juvenile hero Johannesburg. Last season, Tabor's silks were carried with glory by the Vodafone Derby, Irish Derby and Breeders' Cup Turf hero High Chaparral and others.

Vodafone Derby Record: 1997 Entrepreneur (4th); 1998 Second Empire (8th), Saratoga Springs (10th), King Of Kings (15th); 1999 Saffron Walden (7th); 2000 Aristotle (10th), Kingsclere (15th); 2001 GALILEO (WON); 2002 HIGH CHAPARRAL (WON)

Neville Callaghan
Neville Callaghan, who was born in Ireland on May 4, 1946, took out a training licence as a 24-year-old in 1970, initially as private handler to the Stafford-Smith family of Cheveley Park Stud. He had earlier worked for Ken Cundell and Bruce Hobbs. Callaghan's first success came courtesy of Blessed Beauty in a nursery at Salisbury in August, 1970, and in eight seasons at Amberley House in Newmarket's Bury Road he sent out 147 winners before moving base to Hamilton Road. Callaghan trained Tornado Prince to land a gamble in a Haydock seller in 1975 to give owner Michael Tabor his first winner. Callaghan has trained some top-class horses including the Tabor-owned Danehill Dancer, who won two Group One contests in Ireland as a two-year-old in 1995, and Fairy Heights, winner of the Group One Fillies' Mile two seasons earlier. He has also proved his ability to get the best out of a high-class hurdler, sending Royal Vulcan out to win the Irish and Scottish Champion Hurdles in 1983 and winning the Bula Hurdle and the Irish Champion Hurdle with the Tabor-owned Royal Derbi in the early nineties. Callaghan has a reputation of being a colourful character and he has enjoyed his ups and downs over the years. In 1983 he sued the Express for libel concerning his alleged behaviour at a Newmarket Subscription Rooms' dinner in 1975. The trainer was awarded £15,000, plus costs, and the libel was described as "a very serious one indeed," by Mr Justice Russell. More recently - in 1999 - his friend and loyal patron Michael Tabor had Callaghan transferred from Suffolk to the London Clinic for a colon operation. Vodafone Derby Record: 1991 Corrupt (6th)

LET ME TRY AGAIN (IRE) FACTFILE

b c Sadler's Wells (USA) - Dathiyna (IRE) (Kris)
Form: 758-(2)(1)12 Owner: Terry Mills
Trainer: Terry Mills Breeder: Premier Bloodstock and The Luna Wells Syndicate

Let Me Try Again
An Ir£90,000 yearling, Let Me Try Again is by champion sire Sadler's Wells, who has fathered the last two winners of the Vodafone Derby in Galileo and High Chaparral. He was unable to win a maiden in three attempts as a two-year-old with his best juvenile performance coming when five lengths fifth to Cat Ona High over seven furlongs at Leicester in September. After finding just Humouresque a length and a quarter too good in a handicap on the all-weather at Lingfield on January 15, he broke his maiden at the same venue the following month, proving three lengths too strong for My Galliano over a mile and a half. He followed up in fine style in a handicap over an extended 11 furlongs at Windsor in April, when despite badly missing the break he still managed to dispose of his 18 rivals by three lengths. He was stepped up in class on his last start in the Group Three Bet Attheraces On 0800 083 83 83 Derby Trial at Lingfield Park on May 10, when he indicated that he was still improving, going down to Franklins Gardens by half a length with a further 11 lengths back to third Shanty Star.

Race Record: Runs: 7 1st: 2; 2nd: 2; 3rd: 0 Win & Place Prize Money: £21,805

Terry Mills
Terry Mills, who was born on November 9, 1938, has held a licence to train only since 1993, but he had been involved in racing as an owner for many years before that with useful winners like Our Freddie and My Louie. He took over the licence at Loretta Lodges Stables at Headley, just a few miles down the road from Epsom Downs, from Wally Carter.

Before that Mills had been involved on a very full time basis with the family firm of A & J Bull, one of the biggest waste management/demolition companies in the country. He bought his first lorry when demobbing from the army aged 22 and had a fleet of 150 by the time he sold A & J Bull to a Belgian rival four years ago. The family still have the demolition company Goodman Price and Taurus Waste Recycling. Mills's son Robert, who is heavily involved in the training operation, is likely to take over the licence at the end of this season. The best winner he has enjoyed as a trainer came when Where Or When won last year's Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, with his previous top success having come when Bobzao won the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot in 1994. Mills enjoyed another big-race success at Royal Ascot last season when Norton belied his odds of 25/1 to score by half a length from Invader in the Royal Hunt Cup. Mills is aiming to become the first Epsom trainer to send out a winner of the Derby since April The Fifth won for Tom Walls in 1932. Mills is a great Frank Sinatra fan, hence the name Let Me Try Again, and if successful the trainer promises to break into song in the winner's enclosure. Vodafone Derby Record: 1999 All The Way (5th); 2002 Where Or When (6th), Frankies Dream (11th)

DUTCH GOLD (USA) FACTFILE

ch c Lahib (USA) - Crimson Conquest (USA) (Diesis)
Form: 56259-(1)321 Owner: Sheikh Marwan Al Maktoum
Trainer: Clive Brittain Breeder: Darley Stud Management L L C Jockey: Philip Robinson

Dutch Gold
The Clive Brittain-trained Dutch Gold is a half-brother to Crimplene and, just as she did, he has improved from two to three. As a juvenile, Dutch Gold put in his best performance when a length and a half runner-up to Big Bad Bob in an extended seven-furlong novice stakes at Chester in August. His classic season began with a smooth one and a half length success from Miss Grace in a 10-furlong maiden on the all-weather at Lingfield in March. He was then placed on his next two starts, including in the Listed McKeever St Lawrence Easter Stakes at Kempton in April, when he found Prince Tum Tum a length too good. On his most recent outing, he was tried over an extended 12 furlongs for the first time and seemed to appreciate the extra distance, winning the Group Three Victor Chandler Chester Vase by six lengths from Summerland. He is now set to be supplemented for the Vodafone Derby at a cost of £90,000 after working at Yarmouth racecourse on May 28.
Race Record: Runs: 9 1st: 2; 2nd: 2; 3rd: 1 Win & Place Prize Money: £56,807

Sheikh Marwan Al Maktoum
A cousin of Sheikh Mohammed and his brothers, Sheikh Marwan Al Maktoum, a member of Dubai's ruling family, is an owner-breeder on a slightly lesser scale than them. Sheikh Marwan, whose interests are managed by John Ferguson under the Maktoum's Darley Stud, has averaged five horses a season with Newmarket-based trainer Clive Brittain since the handler struck with Sheikh Mohammed's Pebbles at the 1985 Breeders' Cup in the United States. Sheikh Marwan won the 1997 Gimcrack Stakes with the Barry Hills-trained Carrowkeel but he is best known as an owner for the exploits of Crimplene, whom he also bred. The Lion Cavern filly won three Group One events in 2000, including the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh. The owner has a serious challenger for this year's Vodafone Derby in Dutch Gold, who was victorious in the Group Three Victor Chandler Chester Vase by six lengths from Summerland. Vodafone Derby Record: No previous runners

Clive Brittain
Born at Calne in Wiltshire on December 15, 1933, Clive Edward Brittain joined Sir Noel Murless as an apprentice in 1949. From this start Brittain has risen to become one of the most respected trainers in the game, having hit no high spots as a jockey and worked as a stable lad for Murless after serving his time. He has won six British classics, including the 1992 Vodafone Oaks with User Friendly. The only home classic to still elude him is the Vodafone Derby, but he sent out Terimon to finish second to Nashwan in the 1989 renewal at massive odds of 500/1. The master of Carlburg Stables in Newmarket has never been afraid of tackling some of the world's most prestigious races. In 1985 he became the first British trainer to win a Breeders' Cup race when Pebbles landed the Turf. The following season Brittain was the first British handler to win the Japan Cup, this time with Jupiter Island. Other top-class horses he has trained include Mystiko, Julio Mariner, Air Express, Sayyedati, Teggiano and Best Of The Bests. His most recent standard-bearer was Crimplene in 2000. She won three Group One contests, including the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Entenmann's Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh.
Vodafone Derby Record: 1974 Grey Thunder (15th); 1976 Radetzky (10th), Tierra Fuego (11th), Coin of Gold (16th); 1977 Noble Venture (21st); 1978 Julio Mariner (6th); 1980 Braughing (17th), Marcello (23rd); 1981 Sheer Grit (6th), Silver Season (7th), Golden Brigadier (15th); 1982 Lobkowiez (15th); Guns Of Navarone (5th), Neorion (13th),1983 Tivian (15th); 1985 Supreme Leader (4th); 1986 Sirk (7th), Bold Arrangement (14th); 1987 Mountain Kingdom (6th); 1989 Terimon (2nd); 1991 Hailsham (8th), Mystiko (10th); 1992 Alflora (6th), Paradise Navy (14th), Lobilio (15th); 1994 Ionio (11th); 1995 Korambi (12th); 1996 Spartan Heartbeat (14th), Acharne (8th).

Philip Robinson
Born January 10, 1961, Philip Robinson is married to Gillian, and the couple have three children - Lisa-Marie, Amy-Michelle, and Daniel. Robinson served his apprenticeship with his father, Peter, himself a former jockey, and Frankie Durr. He rode his first winner on Busting at Yarmouth on June 14, 1978, and was champion apprentice in 1979 and 1980. Robinson enjoyed a memorable season in 2000, partnering the Clive Brittain-trained Crimplene to win the German and Irish 1,000 Guineas, and storming to a six-length victory on Holding Court, trained by Michael Jarvis, in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) at Chantilly. He began the 2001 season on a high note when taking the Sagitta 1000 Guineas aboard Ameerat and has previously enjoyed classic success in the 1984 1000 Guineas (Pebbles), 1984 Irish 1,000 Guineas (Katies), and 1993 St Leger (Bob's Return). Robinson rode in Hong Kong from 1989 to 1991, where he was leading jockey in 1989 and 1990, and resumed riding there in 1997 although he is now based in Britain. Vodafone Derby Record: 1983 Guns Of Navarone (5th); 1985 Supreme Leader (4th); 1986 Sirk (7th); 1993 Bob's Return (6th); 1994 The Flying Phantom (20th); 1996 Even Top (13th); 2000 Barathea Guest (8th); 2001 Putra Sandhurst (8th); 2002 Coshocton (Fell).

NORSE DANCER (IRE) FACTFILE

b c Halling (USA) - River Patrol (Rousillon (USA))
Form: 11447-3 Owner: Jeff Smith
Trainer: David Elsworth Breeder: Ralph Ergnist and Bruno Faust

Norse Dancer
This son of Halling cost 26,000gns at Tattersalls as a foal and made the perfect start to his racing career as a juvenile winning his first two starts. The first of these successes came in a seven-furlong maiden at Salisbury in June, when he proved a head too strong for Phoenix Reach. The following month he retained his unbeaten record in a novice stakes over the same distance at Ascot, this time getting the better of Pinkerton by two lengths. Later in the same month he was stepped up in class in the seven-furlong Group Three Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, where he suffered his first reversal at the hands of the Sheikh Mohammed-owned Dublin, who beat him two and a quarter lengths into fourth. He then filled the same position in the mile Group Two Hackney Empire Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot on September 28, when going down by four lengths to Al Jadeed. His two-year-old career ended with a run in the Group One Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster the following month, coming seventh to Brian Boru. Backers did not give Norse Dancer much chance when he made his seasonal bow in the Group One Sagitta 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 3. However he belied his odds of 100/1 to finish the one length third to Refuse To Bend in the season's first classic. He has yet to race beyond a mile.

Race Record: Runs: 6 1st: 2; 2nd: -; 3rd: 1 Win & Place Prize Money: £54,278

Jeff Smith
Jeff Smith, 56, purchased the 170-acre Littleton Stud in November, 1984. The stud, home to some 25 mares and the stallion Robellino, is located three miles north of Winchester and Smith lives close by at Merdon Manor in Hursley. He is chairman and chief executive officer of AIM Group Plc, a public company based in Southampton which employs 1,300 people in Britain and America manufacturing aircraft interiors. He currently has more than 30 horses in training with Andrew Balding, David Elsworth, James Eustace and Sylvester Kirk in Britain and Myriam Bollack-Badel in France. Smith's purple and light blue colours first sprung to prominence with top sprinter Chief Singer, the winner of three Group One contests, a horse which Smith describes as the best he has owned together with the home-bred Lochsong, who also won progressed from handicap company to win three top-class races among 15 successes although the owner recently suggested Norse Dancer could be the best he has had. Chief Singer's facile success on his racecourse debut in the 1983 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot threw Smith and trainer Ron Sheather into the limelight at a time when both were virtual unknowns. Sheather is now Smith's racing manager. The owner has also enjoyed success with Blue Siren, Lochangel, the popular stayer Persian Punch, Grey Shot, Dashiba and Rapscallion. His big ambition is to win the Vodafone Derby.

Vodafone Derby Record: No previous runners

David Elsworth
David Elsworth was born just before Christmas in 1939 and first became involved in racing as a jump jockey, riding for a number of stables including those of Toby Balding and Alex Kilpatrick. Success in the saddle was limited, but it was a different exercise when he turned to training after going through some lean years which included at one stage selling from a stall in Devizes market. When he was acting as assistant to Ricky Vallance, he played a big part in the successes of Red Candle in the Hennessy and Mackeson Gold Cups.

He set up on his own in 1978/9 and had his first winner with Fortune Cookie that season, but it was not too long before he started to train the best-known horse with which he will ever be acquainted. This was the grey steeplechaser Desert Orchid, winner of a record four King George VI Chases at Kempton as well as the Cheltenham Gold Cup and many other races in his exhilarating, front-running style.

Elsworth has also enjoyed top level jumping wins with Barnbrook Again, Combs Ditch, Floyd and Oh So Risky, and among his many good results on the Flat have been the Irish 1,000 Guineas, the Juddmonte International and the Champion Stakes with In The Groove, the Jersey Stakes with Indian Ridge and the Racing Post Trophy with Seattle Rhyme. Many of those wins came when he was based at Whitsbury Manor in Hampshire, and he made no secret about how much he missed that place when circumstances forced him to move to Whitcombe Manor in Dorset in the early 90s. He returned to Whitsbury in 1996 and has a team of 61 in training this year.

Vodafone Derby Record: 1982 Tidworth Tattoo (11th), 1984 Mighty Flutter (3rd), 1990 Bookcase (13th), 1992 Well Saddled (12th), 1994 Darkwood Bay (22nd), 1999 Salford Express (14th)

KRIS KIN (USA) FACTFILE

ch c Kris S (USA) - Angel In My Heart (FR) (Rainbow Quest (USA))
Form: 01-1 Owner: Saeed Suhail
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute Breeder: Flaxman Holdings Ltd Jockey: Kieren Fallon

Kris Kin
Kris Kin was bred by Maria Niarchos and family's Flaxman Holdings and bought at the 2001 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $275,000 by Saeed Suhail's agent Charlie Gordon-Watson. Connections have decided to supplement Kris Kin for the Vodafone Derby after the son of Kris S had won the Group Three Philip Leverhulme Dee Stakes on his seasonal debut on May 8 when he came from last to first to beat Big Bad Bob by two lengths. There was drama after the colt had crossed the winning line - as jockey Fergal Lynch celebrated his success, his charge jinked and the rider was thrown. Last season Kris Kin made his racecourse debut in a seven-furlong maiden at Newmarket on October 3, finishing in mid-division behind stable companion Desert Star but he made no mistake 22 days later in a similar event at Doncaster, shaping with immense potential to deny Presenter by two and a half lengths.
Race Record: Runs: 3 1st: 2; 2nd: -; 3rd: - Win & Place Prize Money: £48,778

Saeed Suhail
Saeed Suhail, a businessman involved in property, is based in Dubai where he is a close friend of Sheikh Maktoum Al Maktoum, under whose Gainsborough banner his horses are managed by former jockeys Joe Mercer and Bruce Raymond. He has owned racehorses for more than a dozen years and, from only around ten horses bought at the sales each season, has had great success. In 2000 he finished tenth in the list of leading Flat owners, despite only winning three races, but picking up £384,254 in prize money. Those winners included King's Best in the Sagitta 2000 Guineas and Dilshaan in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy. The prize money tally was helped by Beat All, the 1999 Vodafone Derby third, who filled the same spot behind Dubai Millennium in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot and was fourth to Montjeu in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes. King's Best had been favourite for the 2000 Vodafone Derby, only to be withdrawn on the day of the race because of a muscle complaint. His 22 horses in training this year are split between Sir Michael Stoute and Ed Dunlop and other smart performers to have carried his blue, yellow chevrons, yellow with blue spots cap, colours include Craven Stakes winner King Of Happiness, Brave Reward, Lonesome Dude, Sky Rocket and Tough Speed. Vodafone Derby Record: 1999 Beat All (3rd), 2001 Dilshaan (7th).

Sir Michael Stoute
Born in Barbados on October 22, 1945, where his father was chief of police, Michael Stoute came to Britain in 1965 to nurture his love of racing. He joined Pat Rohan at Malton before moving to Newmarket three years later to work for Doug Smith and then Tom Jones. Stoute took out a public licence to train in 1972, recording his first success that year when Sandal won at Newmarket on April 28. Since then he has been at the top of his profession and has been champion trainer six times - in 1981, 1986, 1989, 1994, 1997 and 2000, when his stars included Sagitta 2000 Guineas winner King's Best and Kalanisi, winner of the Breeders' Cup Turf and Dubai Champion Stakes. A memorable 1997 was headed by the two older horses Singspiel and Pilsudski. Four Group 1 successes went Pilsudski's way - the Coral-Eclipse, Irish Champion Stakes, Dubai Champion Stakes and Japan Cup, while Singspiel won the Dubai World Cup, the Vodafone Coronation Cup and the Juddmonte International. Stoute has won the Vodafone Derby twice - with Shergar in 1981 and Shahrastani five years later. His long list of big-race successes also includes the Sagitta 2000 Guineas (five times), Sagitta 1000 Guineas (twice), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (three times), Vodafone Oaks (twice), the Irish Derby (three times), Irish Oaks (six times), Irish 1,000 Guineas and Irish 2,000 Guineas (three times) as well as many other races across the globe. Stoute, who was knighted in 1998 for his services to sport and tourism in Barbados, has 190 horses in training this year at his Freemason Lodge yard in Newmarket.
Vodafone Derby record: 1978 Hill's Yankee (19th); 1979 Hardgreen (6th); 1980 Running Mill (21st); 1981 SHERGAR (WON); 1983 Shearwalk (3rd); 1984 My Volga Boatman (14th); 1985 Shadeed (13th); 1986 SHAHRASTANI (WON), Jareer (12th); 1987 Ajdal (9th), Ascot Knight (11th); 1988 Doyoun (3rd); 1989 Warrshan (11th); 1991 Mujaazif (13th); 1992 Alnasr Alwasheek (7th); 1993 Shareek (15th); 1994 Golden Ball (7th), Just Happy (8th), Jabaroot (16th), Foyer (UR); 1996 Double Leaf (10th); 1997 Entrepreneur (4th); 1998 Greek Dance (5th); 1999 Beat All (3rd); 2001 Golan (2nd), Dilshaan (7th).

Kieren Fallon
Born on February 22, 1965, in County Clare, Ireland, Kieren Fallon joined Kevin Prendergast's yard as an apprentice in 1983. Piccadilly Lord at Navan on June 18, 1984, was his first winner. Moved from Ireland to ride for Jimmy FitzGerald's Malton stable from 1989 until 1991 and then spent three years with Lynda Ramsden's yard from 1993 until the end of 1996. At the start of the 1997 Flat season, Fallon was a surprise appointment as stable jockey to the Henry Cecil yard and promptly won the Sagitta 1000 Guineas on Sleepytime and Vodafone Oaks on Reams Of Verse. He ceased riding for Cecil in August, 1999, and was first jockey to Sir Michael Stoute in 2000 and 2001, and is now a freelance, although still rides many of the Stoute team. The Stoute/Fallon combination won the Sagitta 2000 Guineas with the Saeed Suhail-owned King's Best in 2000 and Golan in 2001. Fallon was champion jockey in 1997 (202 wins), 1998 (204), 1999 (202), 2001 (166) and again last season with 149 successes. He is a warm order to land a sixth title this season and has already bagged a classic success with Russian Rhythm in the Sagitta 1000 Guineas. His championship ambitions ended at Royal Ascot in 2000 when he suffered a horrific fall requiring shoulder surgery that meant his season was over. He won three of the five classics in 1999 - the Sagitta 1000 Guineas on Wince, the Vodafone Oaks on Ramruma and the Vodafone Derby on Oath, his first success in the premier classic. Fallon spent part of the winner in a clinic in Ireland after admitting to a drink problem and is now teetotal. Vodafone Derby Record: 1994 Party Season (15th); 1997 Symonds Inn (7th); 1998 Sadian (7th); 1999 OATH (WON); 2002 Louisville (9th).

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