[Ferdinand]

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

Anyway......

Back towards the subject, Frankie rode Mariotto to victory at Sandown today, that race wasn't good for my bank balance, but it did help my seven stars stable.

How are you doing in yours mmsc?

FRANKIE CAN'T WAIT FOR TOTAL ECLIPSE


By Tom Peacock and Martin Kelly, PA Sport

Frankie Dettori and Peter Chapple-Hyam are experiencing conflicting emotions as Authorized puts his record on the line in Saturday's Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.

While the pair were both a bundle of nerves before the Vodafone Derby, the colt's staggering five-length victory at Epsom has seen his jockey in a more relaxed mood.

"I'm more excited than nervous," said Dettori. "With the Derby, it was an unknown quantity, but now we know how good he is, I'm just looking forward to the race.

"I rode him in work last week and he was great, and the ground and the track will suit him.

"We'll have to see what happens. Take nothing away from George Washington and Notnowcato, it's going to be a good, tough race."

It will be the first time Authorized has taken on his elders and he drops back from a mile and a half to 10 furlongs, close to the distance over which he landed the Dante Stakes at York.

Much is being made of this clash with George Washington, who had his first start of the season when staying on strongly into fourth in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.

Last year's 2000 Guineas winner had returned to training after failing at stud.

"We will soon find out just how good we really are," reported Chapple-Hyam on his website.

"Everything is good as gold.

"As far as the ground is concerned, I wouldn't want too much more rain. Coming back in trip should be fine - he seems to have sharpened up mentally.

"As for myself, yes there are nerves. But I just want the horse to win for himself and everyone connected to him.

"With George Washington and Notnowcato as well as the other three-year-olds we will have to be on our mettle. But, as I said, I have been happy with Authorized's progress."

George Washington's trainer Aidan O'Brien is responsible for half of the eight runners.

Seamus Heffernan takes over on the enigmatic colt from regular partner Mick Kinane, who will be aboard Vodafone Derby 10th Admiralofthefleet, with Colm O'Donoghue partnering Archipenko. Fran Berry takes the ride on Yellowstone.

The four-year-old tackled this trip for the first time when sixth in the Breeders' Cup Classic last autumn and O'Brien will check on ground conditions in Esher before deciding if all four of his runners go to post.

O'Brien said of George Washington: "He is in great form. He came out of Ascot well and has done a couple of pieces of work since then, which we have been very happy with.

"We were worried when we took him into the parade ring at Ascot as we didn't know what to expect with him, having been away at stud, but he behaved well and took it on the chin.

"He was very fresh during the early part of the race but was staying on late, as he did at Goodwood last year after a break."

Sir Michael Stoute's Notnowcato, winner of last year's Juddmonte International, was also successful in the Tattersalls Gold Cup on his seasonal reappearance.

He had to settle for third on his last outing, in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, but Stoute said: "My horse is in great shape, but the Derby winner looks very good. George Washington is trying a mile and a quarter again so it is a good race.

"Saying that, I think my horse has a great each-way chance and I will be disappointed if he's not in the first three.

"My horse is just as good this year as he was last year and he is probably running to about the same mark.

"He won the Tattersalls well on ground that suited. He beat Dylan Thomas that day and the third horse was three or four lengths back, and I don't think he gets the credit he deserves.

"The ground will suit my fellow, but it will suit the favourite too.

"Three-year-olds have to be good to win the race - it is tough for them, but this three-year-old (Authorized) could be an exception."

Champery will be employed to set the pace for Authorized, while Clive Brittain believes his globetrotting contender Kandidate should not be underestimated.

The five-year-old has not been seen since finishing fifth in the Singapore Airlines International Cup.

"I love these two-horse races as it looks as though there are two horses in the race and nothing else there," Brittain told At The Races.

"But let them be there as he (Kandidate) has never been in better form than he is at the moment.

"It wouldn't be the wildest thing for me to go and win it."

Sandown's clerk of the course Andrew Cooper said the round course going would remain good to soft, soft in places but expects the track to continue drying out, with no rain forecast.

Reprinted from The Sporting Life website.