Thursday, June 1, 2000

DETTORI AND COCHRANE HURT IN PLANE CRASH

The pair were about to fly off to today's meeting at Goodwood at around 12.30 today from Newmarket racecourse when their plane nose-dived shortly after taking off. The plane crashed in the Devil's Dyke area of Newmarket racecourse. Five appliances were sent to the scene by Suffolk Fire Service, with 20 plus officers helping to deal with the burning plane.

COURT SUPPLEMENTED FOR CHANTILLY

The other British acceptors for Sunday's race are John Dunlop's Millenary, winner of the Chester Vase last time out, David Elsworth's Pawn Broker and Paul Cole's Mastermind.

Ireland will be represented by the Ballydoyle challenger Ciro and Dermot Weld's Muakaad.

Godolphin will run Roscius and Broche. Roscius was last out when narrowly landing the Predominate Stakes at Goodwood on May 23 while Broche last ran when successful in the Rosehill Conditions Stakes at Doncaster on May 27.

The remaining entries - all French trained - are Kutub, Cosmographe, Lord Flasheart, Circus Dance, Petroselli and Hesiode.

LATEST VODAFONE DERBY NEWS

Cracow hails from the Lambourn stable of John Hills, who feels that the Polish Precedent colt will run better than his three-figure odds suggest. "He won very easily the other day at Brighton on terrible ground," said Hills. "He's in good form, will get the trip and will handle the track. We are having a sporting go and although he only cost IR14,000gns as a yearling I think he will run a really nice race. My brother Michael Hills will ride."

GOING LATEST
Andrew Cooper, Clerk of the Course at Epsom Racecourse, reports the course to be in good shape despite the recent heavy rainfall. He said yesterday: "The ground is no worse than good to soft at the moment and not far from good. We have had a lot of rain, but the course has taken it very well.

"The next 48 hours are forecast to be potentially showery but after that we are due to have a warmer, drier period and some sunshine. Our intention remains to produce ground no faster than good for the meeting."

£100,000 BONUS ON OFFER
At 4.35pm on Saturday, June 10, the Vodafone ‘Dash' Rated Stakes is run over five furlongs and this Listed event, worth £50,000, will carry an additional bonus of £100,000 if the winner breaks the world record for this trip of 53.60s, which was set by Indigenous in 1960.

The bonus has been doubled since last year and will be split £50,000 to the winning owner, £25,000 to the successful trainer, £10,000 to the jockey, £10,000 to the winning stable and £5,000 will be paid to the Animal Health Trust.

Cooper added: "Epsom's five-furlong course is one of the fastest in the world and the Vodafone Dash should provide a great spectacle immediately after the Vodafone Derby."
THE COLT THAT DREAMS ARE MAID OF
There are several unexposed horses in this year's Vodafone Derby line-up but none more so than Maidstone Majesty, an unraced colt by the 1983 Epsom hero Teenoso, trained by champion jumps trainer Martin Pipe for Fergus Wilson, a retired maths teacher based in Kent.

It has always been the intention of Wilson, who has had runners in each of the last three Martell Grand Nationals, to give Maidstone Majesty his first race in the Vodafone Derby.

"I had always planned to run him first of all in the Vodafone Derby as I used to race pigeons and my speciality was to win the major races first time out. In fact the original Maidstone Majesty was a racing pigeon some 25 years ago," said Wilson.

"I had my first-ever steeplechase runner in the Grand National two years ago (Damas, also trained by Pipe) and I am going to have my first Flat runner in the Derby.

"I consider the Vodafone Derby to be the Rolls Royce of horse racing and realistically this could be my only chance of a runner. I was inspired by a filly called Portuguese Lil in 1996 who ran in the Derby and finished last, although she was not disgraced. I worked out what it had cost them and thought that I could afford that. All in all, including what I bought him for plus entry and training fees, it has cost me about £10,000 to get him to the Derby and I have only entered him in three races this year - the Vodafone Derby, Irish Derby and Arc.

"I think Godolphin and the Tabors and Magniers are great for racing and I shall be the first to congratulate them if they win and I hope they will be the first to congratulate me if my horse wins."

Wilson is full of admiration for Pipe, for whom this will be a first Vodafone Derby runner. "I chose to send this horse to Martin Pipe because I believe that overall he is the best trainer of his generation and he is heading more towards the Flat," added Wilson. "I fully expect him to be the first trainer since Vincent O'Brien to win the Derby and Grand National and I hope it will be with my horse. I am not sure who will ride him, ideally we would have loved Tony McCoy but I think he would have to chop both arms off to do the weight!"

Wilson, whose horses run in the red, black and white colours of Maidstone rugby club for whom he played for many years, took some time to track down Maidstone Majesty. He continued: "I wanted a bay colt and, looking through the Weatherbys Return of Mares, decided that realistically the only horse by the Derby winner Teenoso that I could afford was this one. It took a lot of detective work to find him as the people who had the mare had sold her and this colt had been sold a few times. I finally found him in Scotland and gave the people a bit of a profit.

"He was with me at home for a year and then went off to be broken near Martin Pipe's before going into training this season as had been the plan."

Wilson has backed another of his horses, Maidstone Monarch who is with Red Rum's trainer Ginger McCain, to land next year's Martell Grand National and will win £2 million in bets if the eight-year-old is successful. His investment on Maidstone Majesty is more modest. "I have backed him at 250/1 and will win about £100,000 although I have a bookie who will pay me each-way if he finishes in the first five."

THE VODAFONE DERBY
Class A, Group 1, 3.50pm, Saturday, June 10, 2000, £1 million total prize fund, one mile four furlongs, three-year-old entire colts & fillies. Weights: colts 9st, fillies 8st 9lb. Entries closed December 2, 1998 (601 entries), first forfeit stage March 7, 2000 (171 entries remained), entries revealed March 17, second entry stage April 12 (7 entries added), second forfeit stage May 24 (32 entries remain), £75,000 supplementary entry stage June 3, five-day confirmation stage June 5, final declaration stage 10am, June 8. (Form figures may not include some overseas racing and are correct up to and include Wednesday, May 31, 2000).

Form Horse Owner Trainer/Jockey
1-248 APOLLO VICTORIA (FR) Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE/
11-3 ARISTOTLE (IRE) Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE/Michael Kinane
11-12 BACH (IRE) Satish Sanan & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE/
10112-134 BARATHEA GUEST John Guest George Margarson/Philip Robinson
1-1 BEAT HOLLOW Khalid Abdulla Henry Cecil/
312-3 BEST OF THE BESTS (IRE) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor/Frankie Dettori
1 BIEN ENTENDU Niarchos Family Henry Cecil/Doubtful
1-701 BROCHE (USA) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor/Doubtful
211-31 CIRO (USA) Michael Tabor,Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE/Doubtful
& Richard Santulli
136-2 CORNELIUS Sir George Meyrick Paul Cole/
052-431 CRACOW (IRE) Nick Browne John Hills/Michael Hills
111-122 GIANT'S CAUSEWAY (USA) Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE/Doubtful
31-132 GOING GLOBAL (IRE) Dwayne Woods Sean Woods/John Reid
121-1 HATAAB (USA) Hamdan Al Maktoum Ed Dunlop/
-5 HATHA ANNA (IRE) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor/
6210-11 HOLDING COURT Poilin Good Michael Jarvis/Doubtful
1-4 INCHLONAIG Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor/
115-21 KING'S BEST (USA) Saeed Suhail Sir Michael Stoute/Kieren Fallon
114323-15 KINGSCLERE Michael Tabor Ian Balding/Olivier Peslier
MAIDSTONE MAJESTY Fergus Wilson Martin Pipe/
3-11 MEDIA PUZZLE (USA) Moyglare Stud Farms Ltd Dermot Weld IRE/Doubtful
35-11 MILLENARY Neil Jones John Dunlop/Pat Eddery
-13 MUAKAAD Hamdan Al Maktoum Dermot Weld IRE/Doubtful
2-1 ROSCIUS (IRE) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor/Doubtful
1-11 SADDLER'S QUEST The Fairy Story Partnership Gerard Butler/Kevin Darley
411-11 SAKHEE (USA) Hamdan Al Maktoum John Dunlop/Richard Hills
1-4 SHAKESPEARE Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE/
& Lord Lloyd-Webber
11-21 SINNDAR (IRE) HH Aga Khan John Oxx IRE/Johnny Murtagh
3-2712 ST EXPEDIT John Pearce Geoff Wragg/
3-11 WELLBEING Exors of late Lord Howard de Walden Henry Cecil/
31- ZAFONIUM (USA) HRH Prince Fahd Salman Paul Cole/
213-233 ZYZ Bill Gredley Barry Hills/

32 entries remain after May 24 second forfeit stage.
9 Irish-trained

FACTFILES ON VODAFONE DERBY JOCKEYS

Frankie Dettori (BEST OF THE BESTS)
Born December 15, 1970, the son of Gianfranco, a former champion jockey in Italy, Frankie Dettori arrived from his homeland to join Luca Cumani's Newmarket yard as an apprentice in July, 1985 and rode his first winner on Lizzie Hare at Goodwood on June 9, 1987. Has since captured the hearts of racegoers with his flamboyant style, phenomenal riding successes, and charisma in and out of the saddle. Champion jockey in 1994 and 1995, Dettori created history when riding all seven winners on the first day card at the Ascot Festival in September, 1996. His ground-breaking exertions brought recognition beyond that of racing's own sphere when he was voted into third place in the 1996 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards.
While victory in the Vodafone Derby still eludes Dettori, Cape Verdi's win in the 1998 Sagitta 1,000 Guineas means that he has tasted success in all four other domestic classics, as well as a host of high-profile international successes, including the 1995 Arc on Lammtarra, the 1996 Japan Cup on Singspiel, the 1999 Breeders' Cup Turf on Daylami and the Dubai World Cup on Singspiel in 1997 and this year on Dubai Millennium. Dettori is first jockey to the Godolphin team.

Vodafone Derby Record: 1992 Pollen Count (16th); 1993 Wolf Prince (8th); 1994 Linney Head (10th); 1995 Tamure (2nd); 1996 Shantou (3rd); 1997 Bold Demand (9th); 1998 Cape Verdi (9th); 1999 Dubai Millennium (9th).

Kieren Fallon (KING'S BEST)
Born on February 22, 1965, in County Clare, Ireland, Kieren Fallon joined Kevin Prendergast's yard as an apprentice in 1983. His first winner came on board Piccadilly Lord at Navan on June 18, 1984. 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 took up a surprise appointment as stable jockey to the Henry Cecil yard and promptly fulfilled the weight of expectation laid on his shoulders when winning the Sagitta 1000 Guineas on Sleepytime and Vodafone Oaks on Reams Of Verse. He ceased riding for Cecil last August and has been first rider to Sir Michael Stoute since the start of the 2000 season. The new partnership made an excellent start with the victory of King's Best in the Sagitta 2000 Guineas.

Fallon has been champion jockey for the past three seasons, riding a double century on each occasion - 202 wins in 1997, 204 in 1998 and 202 last season, when he also won three of the five classics - the Sagitta 1000 Guineas on Wince, the Vodafone Oaks on Ramruma and the Vodafone Derby on Oath, his first success in the premier classic.

Vodafone Derby Record: 1994 Party Season (15th); 1997 Symonds Inn (7th); 1998 Sadian (7th); 1999 OATH (WON).

Richard Hills (SAKHEE)
Born on January 22, 1963, minutes after his twin brother, Michael. The Hills' hugely-successful racing family also consists of father, Barry, and brother, John, who are both leading trainers. Charlie, another brother, is a successful amateur rider and assists Barry.
Hills served his apprenticeship under Tom Jones and rode his first winner on Border Dawn at Doncaster on October 26, 1979. He first met the man by whom his riding services are now retained, Hamdan Al Maktoum, through that apprenticeship when the Sheikh installed record-priced 625,000-gns yearling, Ghadeer, in Jones' hands. Hills has now taken on Willie Carson's role as first jockey to Hamdan Al Maktoum. Lahan provided him with a second 1,000 Guineas success this season, having also won the race on Harayir in 1995. Mutafaweq gave Hills his only other classic triumph in last year's St Leger and his other big race successes include the 1999 Dubai World Cup on Almutawakel, the 1990 Ascot Gold Cup on Ashal, the 1998 July Cup on Elnadim and the 1994 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on 66/1 shot Maroof.

Vodafone Derby Record: 1984 At Talaq (4th); 1987 Alwasmi (18th); 1988 Al Mufti (10th); 1989 Flockton's Own (9th); 1992 Lobilio (15th); 1995 Fahal (4th), 1997 Fahris (6th); 1998 Haami (14th); 1999 Zaajer (12th).

Michael Kinane (ARISTOTLE)
Born in Co Tipperary on June 22, 1959, Michael Kinane rode his first winner on March 19, 1975 at Leopardstown on Muscari and served his apprenticeship with Liam Browne. He was champion Irish apprentice in 1978 and has been Irish champion jockey 11 times, most recently last season with 92 successes.

He was first jockey to Dermot Weld until the 1999 season and is now retained by Aidan O'Brien. Kinane partnered the O'Brien-trained King Of Kings to win the 1998 Sagitta 2,000 Guineas, his second consecutive win in the race, following Entrepreneur in 1997. Kinane won the Vodafone Derby in 1993 on Commander In Chief and also won the 1989 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Carroll House and the 1993 Melbourne Cup on Vintage Crop.

Vodafone Derby record: 1983 Carlingford Castle (2nd); 1986 Flash Of Steel (6th); 1990 River God (16th); 1992 Twist And Turn (5th); 1993 COMMANDER IN CHIEF (WON); 1994 King's Theatre (2nd); 1995 Humbel (8th); 1996 Storm Trooper (15th); 1997 Entrepreneur (4th); 1998 Second Empire (8th); 1999 Saffron Walden (7th).

Johnny Murtagh (SINNDAR)
Born May 14, 1970, Johnny Murtagh was apprenticed to John Oxx and became Irish champion apprentice in 1989. Weight problems forced him to relinquish his position as stable jockey to Oxx but Murtagh overcame those difficulties and in 1993 finished runner-up in the Irish jockeys' championship.

In 1995, he became Irish champion jockey for the first time and has since gained international prominence, riding in Dubai during the winter (where he has been champion rider), winning the 1995 Breeders' Cup Mile on Ridgewood Pearl and the following year's Beverley D Stakes on Timarida. Murtagh finished runner-up to Christy Roche in the Irish jockeys' championship in 1997, regained the title in 1998 with 87 victories, although finished only fourth behind Mick Kinane last season.

Vodafone Derby Record: 1996 Double Leaf (10th); 1998 Sunshine Street (4th); 1999 All The Way (5th).

Olivier Peslier (KINGSCLERE)
Born at Cossé-le-Vivien on January 12, 1971, the son of a stonemason, Peslier sprang to prominence in 1996 when winning his first Cravache d'Or (France's jockeys' title) with 163 winners, ending the four-year reign of Thierry Jarnet. He took the title once again, thanks in no small part to his association with champion trainer Andre Fabre, in 1997 with 154 successes. He won consecutive Prix de l'Arc de Triomphes on three outstanding horses, in 1998 on Sagamix, the previous year aboard Peintre Celebre, and in 1996 on Helissio. Peslier has an excellent record on his sorties to Britain - his Group One haul this side of the Channel includes the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1997 Air Express and 1998 Desert Prince), Coronation Stakes (1996 Shake The Yoke) and Dewhurst Stakes (1997 Xaar). He also won the Irish 2,000 Guineas in 1998 on Desert Prince and a year later on Saffron Walden.

Peslier won the Irish Derby (1995 Winged Love) and French equivalent (1997 Peintre Celebre) before he had his first taste of British classic success on High-Rise in the 1998 Vodafone Derby.

Vodafone Derby Record: 1996 Glory Of Dancer (4th); 1997 Cloudings (10th); 1998 HIGH-RISE (WON); 1999 Val Royal (11th).

Richard Quinn (BEAT HOLLOW or WELLBEING)
Born Stirling, Scotland on December 2, 1961, Richard Quinn served his apprenticeship with Herbert Jones in Malton from 1979 until 1981, when he joined Paul Cole, who provided the aspiring rider with his first success, Bolivar Baby at Kempton on October 21, 1981. Quinn was champion European apprentice in 1983 and champion British apprentice in 1984.

His only British classic win so far came in the 1990 St Leger on Snurge - a horse whom, along with Ibn Bey, Ruby Tiger and Bint Pasha, Quinn rates as the best he has ridden. Controversially lost the ride on Generous in the 1991 Derby to Alan Munro when owner Prince Fahd Salman decided to retain the latter jockey despite Quinn's status as stable jockey to trainer Cole. The partnership of Salman, Cole and Quinn was later resumed although the jockey rode as a freelance last season, when he had a best-ever tally of 151 victories, and only Kieren Fallon partnered more winners. Following Fallon's departure from Warren Place, Quinn began as first jockey to Henry Cecil this season.

Vodafone Derby Record: 1985 Reach (6th); 1986 Nomrood (11th); 1987 Ibn Bey (13th); 1990 Zoman (7th); 1992 Alflora (6th); 1993 Redenham (7th); 1994 Waiting (17th); 1995 Riyadian (7th); 1996 St Mawes (17th); 1998 Courteous (12th); 1999 Lucido (15th).

KINGSCLERE FACTFILE
b c Fairy King (USA) - Spurned (USA) (Robellino (USA))
Form: 114323-15 Owner: Michael Tabor
Trainer: Ian Balding Breeder: Ian Balding
Jockey: Olivier Peslier

Kingsclere
Kingsclere is a son of the late Fairy King, sire of last year's Vodafone Derby winner Oath. A half-brother to Hidden Meadow and Scorned, he was bred by his trainer Ian Balding, who named him after the village where he is based.

The colt made a winning start to his racing career when very appropriately landing the Kingsclere Conditions Stakes at Newbury in June last year. He scored again when he next ran in the Beamish Red Conditions Stakes at York on July 10. Although Kingsclere failed to get his head in front in his final four outings as a juvenile, he ran some fine races in defeat. In the Group 3 Solario Stakes at Sandown in August he finished third behind Best Of The Bests and was then second to Sarafan in the Group 3 Stardom Stakes at Goodwood in September. His final race as a juvenile came in the Group 1 Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot in September where he finished third behind Royal Kingdom and Best Of The Bests, being beaten just 2½ lengths.
This season Kingsclere returned to action in the Easter Stakes at Kempton on April 22 where he triumphed over Safarando by 2½ lengths. He then went on trial for the Vodafone Derby in the Chester Vase on May 9, where he finished fifth behind Millenary. However, that race was rather a muddle and Kingsclere was unable to get a clear run when seemingly full of running, in the end beaten 2½ lengths. Kingsclere will be Ian Balding's sole representative in the premier classic this year and French champion Olivier Peslier has been booked to ride.

Race Record: Starts: 8, 1st: 3, 2nd: 1, 3rd: 3 Win and place prize money: £51,530

Michael Tabor
Born in the East End of London on October 28, 1941, but now a resident of Monte Carlo with a reputed £20-million house in Barbados, and a $27-million yacht, Michael Tabor has enjoyed enormous success on the racecourse in recent years in both Europe and North America, and has invested 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 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. The 1997 2,000 Guineas provided Tabor with his first British classic success when Entrepreneur held on from a fast-finishing Revoque and the remainder of a highly-successful season also saw him take the Irish equivalent and the Irish Derby with the Aidan O'Brien-trained Desert King. He first tasted classic success with Thunder Gulch in the 1995 Kentucky Derby and had further victories in 1998 with King Of Kings in the Sagitta 2,000 Guineas while Saffron Walden landed the Irish equivalent in 1999. His best horse to date is Montjeu, who took the French Derby, Irish Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last season. He was once again a significant force at all of the major sales last year. The majority of his horses are raced in partnership with Coolmore Stud principal John Magnier and his wife Sue.

Vodafone Derby Record (all jointly with Sue Magnier): 1997 Entrepreneur (4th); 1998 Second Empire (8th), Saratoga Springs (10th), King Of Kings (15th); 1999 Saffron Walden (7th).

Ian Balding
Born in New Jersey, USA, on November 7, 1938, Ian Balding is one of the senior statesmen of the British training establishment having taken out a public licence in 1964. Before serving his apprenticeship with Herbert Blagrave, brother Toby Balding and Peter Hastings-Bass, he was a successful amateur jockey, recording 70 career wins under National Hunt Rules. Atholl's triumph at Sandown on June 12, 1964, brought Balding his first training success and he was soon to hit the big-time with Silly Season's Royal Ascot win in the Coventry Stakes just days later. Since then, the Kingsclere handler has scarcely looked back, training countless good horses, such as Mrs Penny, Glint of Gold, Forest Flower, Lochsong and Selkirk, sire of Border Arrow.

However, it is his association with Mill Reef that best exemplifies his talent. Owned by Paul Mellon, the Never Bend colt was sent to Britain after he was considered unsuitable for American racing. Winner of five races as a two-year-old, he went on to lift the 1971 Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and become one of the greatest alumni of the turf.

Balding, who also bred Kingsclere, now trains in partnership with his son Andrew, who is being groomed to eventually take over the licence. The trainer's daughter Clare is the BBC television racing presenter. Vodafone Derby Record: 1965 Silly Season (13th); 1971 MILL REEF (WON); 1972 Mezzanine (21st); 1973 Draw The Line (15th); 1978 English Harbour (18th); 1981 Robellino (14th); 1982 Glint Of Gold (2nd); 1984 Elegant Air (12th); 1994 Weigh Anchor (13th); 1997 Papua (13th); 1998 Border Arrow (3rd).

SADDLER'S QUEST FACTFILE
Saddlers' Hall - Seren Quest (Rainbow Quest (USA))
Form: 1-11 Owner: The Fairy Story Partnership
Trainer: Gerard Butler Breeder: Deepwood Farm Stud

Saddler's Quest
The unbeaten Saddler's Quest is a son of the 1992 Vodafone Coronation Cup victor Saddlers' Hall, who sired the 1997 Vodafone Derby runner-up and St Leger winner Silver Patriarch, but now stands as a National Hunt stallion in Ireland.
As a juvenile Saddler's Quest won his only start, the EBF Dodington Stakes, over a mile and a quarter at Bath in September last year where he beat Duchamp by 1¾ lengths. This season he reappeared on April 22 at Kempton, where he was successful in the a classified stakes over a mile and a quarter on soft ground.
For his next run, the colt took a step up in class when he tackled the Group 3 Gartner Derby Trial at Lingfield over one mile three and a half furlongs on May 13 and put himself firmly in the picture for the Vodafone Derby, having come with a strong late run to prevail over Going Global by a neck when clearly appreciating the step up in distance. He will be trainer Gerard Butler's second runner in the Vodafone Derby, after Compton Admiral last year.

Race Record: Starts 3: 1st: 3; 2nd: 0; 3rd: 0; Win and place prize money: £44,963

The Fairy Story Partnership
Saddler's Quest carries the colours of the Fairy Story Partnership, a syndicate that includes Ed and Christabelle Goodwin, who bred the son of Saddlers' Hall at their Deepwood Farm Stud near Maidenhead. Others in the syndicate include Reg and Kate Cannaway, who have been involved throughout the 15-year history of the partnership.

The Goodwins breed on a small scale, with just three or four mares, and were also involved in the "bricks and mortar" business. When the market for property and bloodstock dropped in the 1980s, they decided to diversify into racing syndicates, with the aim of getting 10 people involved in each horse.

Vodafone Derby Record: No previous runners

Gerard Butler
Gerard Butler was born on April 24, 1966 and hails from Co Kildare in Ireland where his family owned the Pier House Stud on the Curragh. He first became professionally involved in racing as a stable lad at Chantilly in 1988 and he then had a spell with top trainer (the late) Colin Hayes in Australia before returning to his native Ireland to work at the Coolmore Stud.

The next move was to the United States where he was attached to D Wayne Lukas' team for three and a half years, working his way up to becoming assistant trainer before his return to Europe coincided with John Dunlop needing a new assistant.

He was at Castle Stables until the end of 1997 when he took up the role of training at Erik Penser's Churn Farm Stables in Oxfordshire and had his first success when Beauchamp King won at Ayr in May, 1998. Compton Admiral flew the flag for him last season with victories in the Craven Stakes and Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown. He has a team of 62 listed in training for 2000.

Vodafone Derby Record: 1999 Compton Admiral (8th).


SINNDAR (IRE) FACTFILE
b c Grand Lodge - Sinntara (Relko)
Form: 11-21 Owner: H H Aga Khan
Trainer: John Oxx IRE Breeder: H H Aga Khan

Sinndar
By the St James's Palace Stakes winner Grand Lodge out of a daughter of the 1963 Derby winner Relko, Sinndar was home-bred by his owner the Aga Khan.

He was unbeaten at two, having won a Curragh maiden on his debut over a mile on September 5, before going on to take the Group 1 National Stakes, sponsored by his owner's stud company, by a head from Murawwi.

His return came on April 16 over ten furlongs in the Listed Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown on April 16 when Grand Finale, who was receiving 7lb, just prevailed by a head. Sinndar resumed winning ways at Leopardstown on May 14 when taking the Group 3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial by a head from fellow Epsom hopeful Bach, who received 7lb.

Race Record: Starts: 4; 1st: 3; 2nd: 1; 3rd: 0; Win & Place Prize Money: £84,275

H H Aga Khan
Born in Geneva on December 13, 1936, the Harvard-educated Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslims, is the son of Prince Aly Khan, whose racing interests he inherited after his father's death in a car accident in May, 1960. However, it was not until the 1970s that the Aga Khan resumed the family's rich racing traditions. His grandfather won the Derby five times with Blenheim (1930), Bahram (1935), Mahmoud (1936), My Love (1948) and Tulyar (1952). In 1973, he built a new stud in Normandy, the Haras de Bonneval, and in 1978 opened the magnificent Aiglemont complex near Chantilly, which includes a 100-box training centre, a chateau where the Aga resides, and an office building from where the owner's worldwide business interests - which include an airline, hotels and a resort in Sardinia - are conducted. The Aga Khan has an enterprising breeding policy and is never afraid to use stallions away from the mainstream. He races only home-breds but is always keen to acquire new bloodlines, as when paying £1.3 million in September, 1977, for 82 mares, yearlings and foals owned by Francois Dupre's widow, Anna, and £4.7 million the following year for more than 100 head of bloodstock owned by the late Marcel Boussac. Gilltown and Sallymount Studs in Ireland provide over 2,000 acres of pastures and he has a further 550 acres of paddocks in France, where his farms include the Haras de Saint-Crespin. He has seen his famous emerald green and red colours carried to victory in the Vodafone Derby three times, the most memorable being the record-breaking ten-length victory of the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Shergar in 1981. Shahrastani, also trained by Stoute, held off the fast-finishing challenge of Dancing Brave in 1986 while Kahyasi triumphed for Luca Cumani two year's later. The Aga Khan, whose full title is His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, boycotted British racing from December, 1990 until Royal Ascot in June, 1995, as a result of his filly Aliysa's disqualification from the 1989 Oaks. Aliysa tested positive to camphor in her post-race dope test and after losing a long battle with the Jockey Club the Aga Khan withdrew his horses from Britain. A positive test last season led the owner to withdraw 30 horses he had with Cumani in January, with Sir Michael Stoute the chief beneficiary. Vodafone Derby Record: 1977 Blushing Groom (3rd); 1981 SHERGAR (WON); 1986 SHAHRASTANI (WON); 1987 Sadjiyd (8th); 1988 KAHYASI (WON); 1988 Doyoun (3rd); 1989 Torjoun (8th); 1999 Daliapour (2nd).

John Oxx IRE
Born July 14, 1950, John Oxx has built up an outstanding training record since saddling his first winner - Orchestra - at Phoenix Park on March 31, 1979, but Sinndar will be his first ever runner in the Vodafone Derby.

In 1978 he had taken over the licence upon the retirement of his eight-time classic-winning father - also John - and is now the principal Irish trainer to the Aga Khan and Sheikh Mohammed while other major owners include Chryss O'Reilly and Lady Clague.
Oxx has a particularly good record with fillies, headed by the great Ridgewood Pearl, whose victories in 1995 included the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes, Prix du Moulin and culminated in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Belmont Park. He has also enjoyed classic success in the Irish Oaks (1997 Ebadiyla and 1998 Winona) and Irish St Leger (1987 Eurobird and 1989 Petite Ile).

Oxx is also involved in racing politics as a former chairman of both the Irish National Stud and Association of Irish Racehorse Trainers and is a member of the Irish Horseracing Authority committee. He has a biggest ever team of 153 horses listed in training at his base at Currabeg in Co Kildare for 2000.

Vodafone Derby Record: No previous runners

WELLBEING FACTFILE
Sadler's Wells (USA) - Charming Life (Sir Tristram)
Form: 3-11 Owner: Executors of late Lord Howard de Walden
Trainer: Henry Cecil Breeder: Lord Howard de Walden

Wellbeing
A son of the multiple champion sire Sadler's Wells, who is yet to produce a Vodafone Derby winner, out of a mare by one of the southern hemisphere's greatest stallions, Sir Tristram, Wellbeing was home-bred by his late owner, Lord Howard De Walden.

The half-brother to the 1997 King Edward VII Stakes winner Kingfisher Mill had just one run last season, when finishing third behind Shouf Al Badou in the Gibson Booth Conditions Stakes at Doncaster over one mile in November, where he gave the impression that he would do better as a three-year old. This season he reappeared on April 18, when he won the Alphameric-Red Onion Maiden Stakes at Newmarket over a mile and a half. He then went on to take the Ruinart Champagne Conditions Stakes at Newmarket on May 6 over a mile and a half where he ran out an impressive winner. Wellbeing is one of three possible Vodafone Derby runners for Henry Cecil, along with Beat Hollow and Bien Entendu.

Race Record: Starts: 3, 1st: 2, 3rd: 1 Win and place prize money: £12,192.

Executors of the late Lord Howard de Walden
Lord Howard de Walden was one of the last major British aristocratic owner-breeders to race on a significant scale. Born on November 27, 1912 and educated at Eton and Cambridge, he inherited his father's title - and some of the most valuable parts of London's West End - in 1946. He became a member of the Jockey Club in 1952 and served as senior steward three times, in 1957, 1964 and 1976.

His distinctive apricot colours, which were chosen for his father by the artist Augustus John in the belief that they would contrast with the green turf on a racecourse, have been carried to many big-race victories including in the 1985 Derby by Slip Anchor.

Lanzarote provided a big jumping success for Lord Howard in the 1974 Champion Hurdle, while he also owned the star brothers Kris, Diesis and Keen. More recently Grand Lodge won the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in 1993.

Lord Howard died on July 10 last year and his racing interests have been continued by his widow Gillian and four daughters as has the breeding operation, based at Plantation Stud in Newmarket and Templeton Stud at the family home in Berkshire. But one change is that the home-bred colts will now be offered for sale with the fillies retained for breeding.

Lord Howard de Walden's Vodafone Derby Record (since 1965): 1985 SLIP ANCHOR (WON)

Henry Cecil
Born in Aberdeen on January 11, 1943, Henry Cecil has achieved just about everything he could have dreamed of in a training career spanning more than 30 years. If classic success is a measure of achievement on the Flat, the ten-time champion trainer is second to none among current trainers having won every domestic classic at least twice and amassed a total of 22 in all, and can also include three King George victories.

The Lord Howard de Walden-owned Slip Anchor brought Cecil the first of his four Blue Riband triumphs with an emphatic victory. Ridden by the American Steve Cauthen, the colt led from almost start to finish to win by seven lengths. Reference Point, also ridden by Cauthen, won the 1987 Derby holding off the challenge of Most Welcome while Commander In Chief, Cecil's supposedly second string behind Tenby in the 1993 Vodafone Derby, made it a hat-trick of wins, this time under the Irishman Mick Kinane, while last year Oath - partnered by Cecil's then stable jockey Kieren Fallon - provided a third classic success of the season. Cecil's passion for the turf was nurtured by his stepfather, Sir Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, with whom a young Cecil served as assistant trainer to between 1964 and 1968, before taking out his own licence to train in 1969. It was not long before he staked his claim among the ranks of the leading trainers with a victory by Wolver Hollow in the Eclipse Stakes of that year. On the retirement of Sir Noel Murless, father of his first wife Julie, in 1976, Cecil took over Warren Place Stables in Newmarket where he has remained. He has a string of 169 horses in training for 2000, with Richard Quinn as stable jockey.

Henry Cecil's Vodafone Derby Record: 1970 Approval (7th); 1973 Relay Race (6th); 1974 Arthurian (12th); 1976 Wollow (5th); 1977 Royal Plume (20th); 1979 Lyphards Wish (5th); 1980 Hello Gorgeous (6th); 1984 Claude Monet (13th); 1985 SLIP ANCHOR (WON), Lanfranco (5th); 1986 Mashkour (3rd), Faraway Dancer (4th); 1987 REFERENCE POINT (WON), Legal Bid (14th); 1990 Razeen (14th), River God (16th); 1991 Hokusai (7th); 1992 Twist And Turn (5th); 1993 COMMANDER IN CHIEF (WON), Tenby (10th); 1994 King's Theatre (2nd); 1996 Dushyantor (2nd), Storm Trooper (15th); 1998 Sadian (7th); 1999 OATH (WON).

RESEARCH TO BENEFIT RACEHORSES

This group has been set up by the Horserace Betting Levy Board's Veterinary Advisory Committee (VAC) to build on regular past consultations with the Jockey Club Veterinary Committee and the British Equine Veterinary Association.

The TRCG will enhance the opportunities for identifying research priorities for Thoroughbreds and feed back the outcomes to the racing and breeding industries.

Professor Hugh Miller, the VAC Chairman, said: "The Levy Board's funding of an active research base and specialist training of equine veterinarians in clinical skills makes a unique contribution to improving the health and welfare of horses racing and breeding in Britain.

"The new consultative group will further ensure that the Levy Board's investment stays focused on the Thoroughbred's needs."

Levy Board funding this year will launch new scientific studies on bone and tendon weakness, leg vibrations, equid herpesvirus, skin tumours and grass sickness.

These projects represent just some of the ways that Thoroughbred health and welfare will benefit from this year's 1.56 million Levy Board veterinary budget, to be implemented in October.

The budget - increased by 3% - will also support other research projects, post-graduate equine veterinary education, equine infectious disease surveillance and Codes of Practice on Equine Venereal Disease.

The Levy Board has renewed its commitment, for a further three years, to back the Animal Health Trust's Equine Influenza Surveillance programme. This is within the 157,000 allocated under the infectious disease surveillance heading. By monitoring changes in the flu virus, the programme gives the basis for updating flu vaccines in order to provide maximum protection for racehorses.

Out of the total Levy Board veterinary budget of 1.56 million, 1.1 million will go towards research, with ten new projects and 14 on-going ones supported.

One project will determine whether there is a direct relationship between bone and tendon strength in the racehorse. If so, this will open opportunities to predict tendon strength from non-invasive screening of bone strength - allowing identification of at-risk horses and the use of appropriate training regimes to avoid injury.

A second project will pave the way for developing a computer model for predicting the effects of stress on muscle and vibrations on tendons which are thought to lead to fatigue damage in legs.

A third study will investigate whether Clostridium botulinum bacteria in the gut are the cause of grass sickness in the horse.

A fourth research programme will be the first-ever major study of the mechanisms involved in the formation of a type of skin tumour known as sarcoids which can be a serious welfare concern. Knowledge of these mechanisms will open up the opportunity for improved prevention and treatment of sarcoids.

Peter Webbon, the Jockey Club Chief Veterinary Advisor, commented: "These innovative projects address important problems in the thoroughbred and are welcomed by the Jockey Club Veterinary Committee."

Post-graduate equine veterinary education will receive 270,000 from the Levy Board this year, the AHT's Diagnostic Services will gain 81,000 and 11,150 is going towards supporting scientific meetings on bleeding and biochemical markers of bone development and metabolism.

Hugh Miller and John Walmsley MRCVS, a private practitioner in Hampshire, have been reappointed to the VAC for three years.

GOURMET TREAT IN STORE AT NEWBURY

The Vineyard sponsors the trainer, jockey and owner championships during the Flat and jump seasons at Newbury Racecourse.

The £6,000 added RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION (LAMBOURN GROUP) MAIDEN STAKES (7pm), over six furlongs, is named after the charity for the evening, which is to hold a picnic in the centre of the course to raise funds for its invaluable work.

The meeting begins in fine style with an Arab race, the EMIRATES ARABIAN STAKES, over one mile and two furlongs for four-year-olds and upwards, at 6pm.

The European Breeders Fund sponsors the £5,000 added EUROPEAN BREEDERS FUND ILSLEY MAIDEN STAKES (6.30pm), over the sprint distance of five furlongs, which is for two-year-olds.

The feature race of the night is the £10,000 added KENNET FILLIES' HANDICAP (8pm), over one mile and two furlongs for fillies and mares, which promises to be a competitive event.

Mark Kershaw, Newbury's Managing Director and Clerk of the Course, said: "Newbury is delighted to have a second evening fixture this season on Thursday, June 8, particularly after the success of the first one on Wednesday, May 31, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all those who attended.

"I am looking forward to welcoming Billy Reid, who is a chef of exceptional ability, and Riding For The Disabled Association, a charity that deserves recognition for the fantastic work which it conducts."
Following this evening fixture, Newbury races during the afternoon on Thursday, June 15, with the July meetings taking place on the 16th (Sunday) and 21st (Friday) and 22nd (Saturday).

HIGH WALDEN UNLIKELY FOR EPSOM

However, the trainer's Love Divine is almost certain to be supplemented after a very good piece of work yesterday. Love Divine was last seen out when an impressive winner of the Lupe Stakes at Goodwood on May 24.

ROYAL ASCOT ENTRIES

The Prince of Wales's Stakes, being run as a Group One race for the first time this season, is the main attraction on Wednesday. Dubai Millennium, Montjeu and Shiva remain among the entries. Also on the Wednesday, that famous cavalry charge, the Royal Hunt Cup has attracted 101 entries, including last year's winner Showboat.

19 remain in Thursday's Gold Cup, including the last three winners of the race - Celeric, Kayf Tara and Enzeli. On Friday, 31 remain in the Coronation Stakes, including the Sagitta 1000 Guineas victor Lahan and Petrushka.

LATEST WILLIAM HILL ODDS FOR ROYAL ASCOT

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