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Genes Reunited

Heffernan puts Fame and Glory in highest bracket.

Having ridden High Chapparal, Dylan Thomas, and Galileo to success in the Derrinstown Derby Trial at Leopardstown, Seamie Heffernan knows what he is talking about when he compares Sunday's winner Fame and Glory to these great horses from the Ballydoyle stables. In conversation today with ATR, the jockey reported Fame and Glory took the race wonderfully well, and he expects him to improve again for the Epsom Derby.

Based on today's comments from Heffernan, we are going to have to see an exceptional performance in this week's Dante Stakes if there is going to be a serious challenger to Fame and Glory for the Investec Derby title.

Cumani analysis shows Fantasia could not win.

Having seen the split times for yesterday's Poule d'essai des Pouliches at Longchamp, Luca Cumani now realises why Fantasia failed to gain victory.

"The first five furlongs of yesterday's race were too slow, and by kicking three furlongs from home on Elusive Wave, her jockey made it impossible for Fantasia to use her finishing speed to win. When we take her back for the Prix de Diane, it will be a different race, as the straight at Chantilly is longer, and the track is stiffer, so it should suit our filly's abilities".

Doubts over British campaign for Overdose.

Hungarian equine sprint star Overdose, known as the 'Budapest Bullet', has had an absis removed from the hoof on his left foreleg, and the recovery time for the injury means he will miss the Temple Stakes at Haydock Park. Connections have also indicated, if he is unable to train in time, he could also miss his intended targets of the Kings Stand and Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, and this would only leave the July Cup at Newmarket as the sole survivor of his intended British campaign.

Blue Wind test for Beauty.

The John Oxx trained Beauty O'Gwaun is amongst a number of outsiders quietly fancied for the Epsom Oaks, and those potential supporters will have a clearer picture of her abilities after this coming Wednesday's Blue Wind Stakes at Naas. With the withdrawal today of the Roger Curtis trained Lady Deauville, Beauty O'Gwaun should have the race to herself, but she will have to turn in a dominent performance if she is to move up the pecking order for this year's Epsom Filly's Classic.

Border Patrol may seek Listed success.

When Roger Charlton's Border Patrol defeated South Easter in a Newbury Maiden last month, connections were considering running their three year old in a major handicap for his next outing, but after South Easter's success in last week's Group 3 Dee Stakes at Chester, the same connections have now decided to raise their sights to a potential Listed victory, with suitable options being available at Haydock, Sandown and Newmarket within the next two weeks.

Rachel Alexandra could miss out on Preakness.

Outstandin three year old filly Rachel Alexandra, who turned the Kentucky Oaks into a rout, could miss out on an intended run in Sunday's Preakness Stakes.

Despite turning in an exceptional piece of work at Churchill Downs yesterday morning, the filly may fail to get a place in the fourteen runner field for this Sunday's second leg of the U S triple crown, as currently their are fourteen qualifying colts ahead of her in the pecking order for the Group 1 contest.

Kite Wood impressing in warm-up work.

Apparently, Autumn Stakes winner Kite Wood is turning in some very good home work prior to his run in the Dante Stakes at York, and representatives of Godolphin have made it clear, they expect their three year old to make Crowded House work for victory in the Group 2 contest later this week.

Irish raiders make Duke of York Stakes a keen contest.

Apart from Abernant Stakes first and second Tax Free and Equiano, Wednesday's Duke of York Stakes will feature three raiders from Ireland. Edward Lynam's Duff has been a regular visitor on the all weather during the winter months, and with a Listed victory at York already to his credit, he is an interesting competitor in this Group 3 race. He will be joined in the line-up by fellow Irish sprinters Rock of Rochelle and Dohasa.

Connections of Hitchins have paid seven and a half thousand pounds to supplement him for the race, and other interesting runners are 2008 Ascot winner Kings Apostle, and Sir Gerry, the latter having his first outing of the season after apparently impressing in his preparation work.

Oaks fillies to clash in Musidora.

At today's forty eight hour decleration stage, only six fillies have stood their ground for Wednesday's Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York, but three of the remaining entrants are leading fancies for the Investec Oaks at Epsom.

Michael Bell's Sariska was a winter fancy for the Epsom Classic, but it is difficult to assess her current form as her fourth place in the Newbury Fred Darling Stakes was caused by a blocked run at the crucial stage in the latter stages of the race.

The Queen's Enticement defeated the very impressive Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Midday when they raced against each other in the Melrose Stakes last November, but the fact she has not run so far this season may indicate she is difficult to train.

High Heeled was an impressive winner of her Conditions Stakes at Newbury, and she also saw off some useful colts in that race, but connections are indicating she will only run on Wednesday if the ground conditions are not too firm.

Unless their is a major shock, one of these fillies should obtain victory in the Musidora, and whichever it turns out to be, will almost certainly join Rainbow view at the head of the market for the Group 1 Epsom Oaks in June.

Robinson back in action at York.

Having been slammed into the ground when the ill fated Chief Editor suffered a heart attack during the six furlong sprint on 1,000 Guineas day at Newmarket, jockey Philip Robinson has been sidelined ever since with a troublesome hip. But in an interview given yesterday, he indicated he is feeling much better, and expects to be back in the saddle on Wednesday of this week for the first day of the Dante Meeting at York. In his interview, Robinson added,

"Although I don't think I need it any more, my surgeon is going to give me a steroid injection into my hip on Monday, and I am sure I will return at York on Wednesday".

Veracity to make debut at York.

Veracity was a good winner of a two mile race at Nad al Sheba earlier this year, and the Godolphin owned horse is to make his seasonal debut in Friday's Emirate Airlines Yorkshire Cup on the Knavesmire.

It is understood trainer Saeed bin Suroor wants to analyse Veracity's performance over Friday's trip of one mile six furlongs before deciding on a plan for the season, but a good run would almost certainly lead to an entry in the Ascot Gold Cup in June.

Holland to miss Derby Meeting.

Found in breach of the rules of racing for failing to ride out Gold Maha for third position in a Fillies Maiden at Warwick on Saturday evening, jockey Darryl Holland has earned himself a long unscheduled rest. having been found guilty of a similar offence within the last twelve months, under the current totting up procedure, the jockey received a twenty one day suspension from the Warwick stewards, and as the ban runs from 23 May to 12 June, Holland will now miss the Epsom Derby Meeting.

After receiving the ban, the jockey left the track without making any comment to reporters, but news this morning suggests Holland will appeal against his ban in front of the main BHA Disciplinary Panel.

Mood Music gets the race as Marchand D'or flops.

Freddie Head must be a worried trainer this morning, as Europe's top rated sprinter in 2008, Marchand D'or continued in the same poor vein of form as he ended last season. The seven year old never figured in yesterday's Prix de Saint-Georges at Longchamp, and he could only manage fourth place as the horses passed the post.

Inxile finished first in the race, but later lost his victory in the stewards room, being demoted to third behind Mood Music and former Mark Wallace inmate Benbaun.

As a result of the poor run from Marchand D'or in yesterday's contest, his price for the Ascot Kings Stand Stakes has drifted markedly in this morning's trading.

Fond farewell to Johnnie Fenwick-Clennell.

As a north east based racing organisation, Racingsight would like to pay our respects to Johnnie Fenwick-Clennell, who sadly passed away over the weekend after a long illness.

Johnnie had undertaken a fantastic job as Clerk of the Course at one of the most weather affected tracks in the British Isles, and he will be missed by all who knew him.

Consultants to face media with plan.

Consultants Harrison Frazer, who have been employed on a six figure salary by Racing Enterprises Limited, are due to present their plans for the future of British Horseracing to an assembled throng of hard bitten media representatives in London today.

As soon as we have full details of their proposals, we will publish them in this news section.