Sport

Dr Massini now aimed toward Curragh Derby

DR MASSINI, favourite for the Derby until ruled out by injury three days before the race, is on course to challenge the Epsom…

Wed Jun 12 1996 - 01:00

DR MASSINI, favourite for the Derby until ruled out by injury three days before the race, is on course to challenge the Epsom form by taking on Shaamit at the Curragh at the end of the month.

The colt, who climbed to the front of the classic betting after winning the Glasgow Stakes at York, is back cantering and is expected to resume full work soon.

Dr Massini was found to be lame on his near fore foot, on the Wednesday before the big race, having been lame on his off-fore a week earlier.

Yesterday trainer Michael Stoute ruled out a tilt at the King Edward VII Stakes during next week's Royal Ascot meeting, and named the Irish Derby on June 30th as his likely target.

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Even without Dr Massini, Stoute still expects to saddle 11 at the royal meeting, including Soviet Line, Pilsudski, Dance Sequence and Election Day.

Dual Lockinge Stakes winner Soviet Line will again have a new jockey as he bids to shoulder a 5lbs Group One penalty in the Queen Anne Stakes, the first race of the meeting.

With his last partner, Richard Quinn, suspended, John Reid takes over on the six-year-old.

Reid will also partner Moonshine Girl in the Queen Mary and Stoute, still without the services of Walter Swinburn, has secured riders for almost all his team.

Pat Eddery will partner Pilsudski (Prince Of Wales) and Dance Sequence (Cork And Orrery), while Frankie Dettori rides Shock Value (Coventry), Fujiyama Crest (Ascot Stakes) and Darb Alola (Norfolk Stakes).

Willie Carson will be aboard Election Day in the Hardwicke Stakes, provided there is no jar in the ground.

Mick Kinane will be on Bathilde in the Ribblesdale Stakes and Rocky Oasis, runner-up to Shantou last time, in the King Edward VII Stakes. He has also been offered the mount on Clerkenwell in the Queen's Vase.

Derby third Shantou will attempt to resurrect John Gosden's "worst season ever" by contesting the King Edward VII Stakes.

The progressive colt, who lost his maiden tag in the week before Epsom will be running his third race within 24 days.

Gosden normally finds at least one winner per Royal Ascot meeting and has 10 earmarked for this year's fixture.

Among them could be last year's Derby second Tamure who could contest the Hardwicke Stakes "as long as the ground is good, otherwise we might delay his comeback".