Motivator bypasses Guineas for Dante

MOTIVATOR is to bypass the UltimatePoker.com 2000 Guineas and will now start his three-year-old career in the totesport Dante Stakes at York on May 12.

The unbeaten Montjeu colt pleased trainer Michael Bell in his work yesterday morning but he and owners the Royal Ascot Racing Club have decided it is in the horse’s best interests to miss the first Classic of the season.

Motivator was as short as 10-1 with Coral for the Guineas.

Motivator was partnered by Johnny Murtagh as he worked over a mile on the Summer Gallop at Newmarket yesterday morning along with recent Doncaster winner Cool Panic.

Although he pulled some six lengths clear, Murtagh, who is committed to riding the colt this season, felt he may prove better over further than a mile.

The Club’s racing manager Harry Herbert explained: “This was Motivator’s first serious piece of work of the year and we wanted to get a guideline from Johnny, who was keen to ride him today and has committed himself to an association throughout the season which is what we were looking for.

“Michael Kinane has heavy commitments elsewhere.

“Johnny got off Motivator and said that he was a horse who will take some beating in the Arc, and described him as a very serious middle-distance performer.

“We feel he is a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half horse and have sat down and decided that he will not now go for the 2000 Guineas and instead be aimed at the Dante.

“These decisions are never easy - there are so many pieces of the puzzle to fit together - but we feel it is in Motivator’s best interests for his long-term career to go for a Derby trial and, if he runs well in that, tackle the Vodafone Derby which has always been his target.

“Not many horses win both the Guineas and the Derby.

“His physique and pedigree suggest he is a middle-distance horse, although he also possesses an abundance of speed.”

Motivator is the 7-1 second favourite for the Vodafone Derby with William Hill.

Ladbrokes have shortened Dubawi to 2-1 from 5-2 for the Guineas in light of the news that Motivator does not run.

The Saeed bin Suroor-trained colt, a son of Dubai Millennium, is also their 5-1 favourite for the Derby ahead of Motivator on 8-1.

UltimatePoker.com 2000 Guineas, Ladbrokes bet: 2-1 Dubawi, 10-1 Footstepsinthesand, Rob Roy, 12-1 Etlaala, 14-1 Montgomery’s Arch, Oratorio, 20-1 Ad Valorem, 25-1 Forward Move, Belenus, Dark Cheetah, Diktatorial, Tiger Dance, 33-1 Kamakiri, Parole Board, Tarraman, Echo Of Light, Iceman, 40-1 bar.