Fahey excited ahead of French test

Having missed, probably fortuitously, a clash with the precocious Frankel in the English equivalent two weeks ago because of a minor training setback, the three-year-old colt is reported to be in fine fettle ahead of the Poule D’Essai Des Poulains at Longchamp.

Wootton Bassett, the reigning Yorkshire horse of the year named in honour of the market town that pays homage to those soldiers killed in Afghanistan, has winning course form – he gave Malton-based Fahey and champion jockey Hanagan a first taste of Group One glory when winning the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day last October.

However, the three-year-old – unbeaten from five starts – will have to overcome an unfavourable high draw and a quality field that includes Ryan Moore’s mount Imperial Rome and Godolphin’s Midsummer Fair.

“It’s exciting and a bit nerve wracking, but we couldn’t be happier with him,” said Fahey.

“We’re drawn on the outside (stall 14 of 15). I’d prefer to be a bit lower but it’s not a disaster. I just hope he performs now.

“His work has been very good and we feel he’s trained on. I’m not 100 per cent sure of the French form, but there’s nothing really sticking out and frightening me. We’ll just have to see. It’s a question of whether he is good enough.”

Asked whether it was a blessing that Wootton Bassett missed the 2000 Guineas where Frankel led from start to finish, Fahey said: “You never like to miss an English Classic, but the horse comes first. I’d say we will meet Frankel at some point – but let’s win tomorrow first. He’s the best horse I’ve ever trained.”

Having accompanied his stable star to Paris, Fahey missed the final day of York’s Dante meeting where the unbeaten sprinter Miss Work of Art strengthened her Royal Ascot claims in the opener before Tepmokea landed the mile and a half handicap to illustrate the stable’s versatility.

Both wins strengthed Hanagan’s grip at the top of the jockeys’ championship and also the Yorkshire Post-backed Cock o’ the North contest – the competition to determine the North’s most successful rider. Hanagan is now 22 clear of Thirsk-based Silvestre de Sousa.

Yet, under grey skies that later sent racegoers scurrying for cover from rain, rising star William Buick followed up his dramatic Musidora success aboard Joviality by producing one of the rides of 2011 on Duncan to win the Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup for stayers.

Now a market leader for the Ascot Gold Cup, Buick set out to make the running on the John Gosden-trained six-year-old, tacked over to the standside rail and then summoned every last reserve of energy from the saddle to repel Malton trainer David O’Meara’s Blue Bajan by half a length.

The winning jockey had a simple explanation for the horse’s improved performance: “I think gelding him has probably helped as well, he’s got his mind on one thing now.”

Gosden, winning his first Yorkshire Cup, added: “Duncan was a little effervescent and fresh and I’m sure with that out of his system, he’ll be able to go further. We’ll give the Ascot Gold Cup some thought.”

Thirteen Shivers and Hoof It also provided veteran Sheriff Hutton trainer Mick Easterby with a memorable 135-1 double, the latter co-owned by world No 1 golfer Lee Westood and ridden by Kieren Fallon, the former champion.

But, while commendable levels of prize money continue to enhance York’s reputation, former champion jockey Frankie Dettori gave up a mount at Newbury yesterday because the race was being run for a prize below the tariff guidelines set by the Horsemen’s Group.

Dettori was replaced by Jim Crowley for the ride on the Terry Mills-trained Diamond Vision in the Scope Handicap, with the horse unplaced.

The jockey is retained by Godolphin, who will not enter runners in below-tariff races as part of the continuing dispute over prize money.

“I was asked to get off the horse by my bosses because it’s under the tariffs,” explained Dettori.

There will be no such qualms at the Berkshire track today when Richard Hannon’s star milers Canford Cliffs and Dick Turpin go head-to-head in the JLT Lockinge Stakes, a Grade One contest.

A stellar field, the line-up also includes the Henry Cecil-trained veteran Twice Over, with his stable looking to reverse their York disappointments.

The most obvious was Dante fourth World Domination who will bypass the Epsom Derby, but jockey Tom Queally said yesterday that the colt should not be written off after his seven-length defeat to the Queen’s Carlton House and that Royal Ascot is a realistic target.

“Epsom can take a lot out of horses and it’s probably a blessing in disguise,” said Queally, with a view to Royal Ascot next month where five days of championship racing could ultimately see his mount Frankel take on Wootton Bassett if the latter passes tomorrow’s French test with distinction.

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