Sport

Asmussen pleased with Helissio's workout

Favourite Helissio "went very nicely" in a gallop in France yesterday as market rival Singspiel acquired the assistance of Frankie…

Tue Jul 22 1997 - 01:00

Favourite Helissio "went very nicely" in a gallop in France yesterday as market rival Singspiel acquired the assistance of Frankie Dettori for Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.

Helissio, offered at 6 to 4 for the £500,000 Ascot showpiece by William Hill, delighted Cash Asmussen in a nine-furlong workout at

Chantilly.

"He went very nicely," the French-based American said. "He was relaxed and very happy. He is in good shape.

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"I am full of confidence for Ascot but it is a great field and everything in it deserves plenty of respect as they have all won big events.

"It is a great race and should be great for the game - I am proud to be playing a small part.

"Singspiel is one of the best horses in training in the world today. I watched Swain in his French days so I have a lot of respect for him. But I sure wouldn't swap my horse for any of them."

Last year's five-length Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner will face a small field on Saturday after only eight horses were declared for the race yesterday.

Sheikh Mohammed has changed jockeys for his acceptors Shantou -

whose price was pushed out to 16 to 1 from 12 to 1 by Ladbrokes - and

Singspiel - cut from 9 to 4 second favourite to 15 to 8 by William

Hill yesterday.

Racing manager Anthony Stroud explained: "In the light of not getting Olivier Peslier, Frankie Dettori will ride Singspiel.

"We are looking at the alternatives for Shantou. We want to explore every option and there may not be a decision until Thursday.

"Singspiel worked satisfactorily over the weekend, although the papers seem to have gone overboard about it. It will be a really competitive race as there are some very, very good horses in it."

The mile-and-a-half event is renowned for attracting smallish fields, with eight going to post 12 months ago and only seven lining up in 1995.

It has been won by a three-year-old nine times since 1985 but only member of the Classic generation declared yesterday was the Julie

Cecil-trained King Edward VII Stakes winner, Kingfisher Mill, to be ridden by Pat Eddery.