Fallon booked for Al Zir in Derby
Kieren Fallon has been booked to ride Godolphin’s Al Zir in Saturday’s Investec Derby at Epsom.
The six-times champion looked set to be without a ride as his retained trainer Luca Cumani does not have a runner while he was unlikely to pick up another spare ride for former boss Aidan O’Brien.
Fallon rode one of the Ballydoyle outsiders, Viscount Nelson, in the 2000 Guineas earlier this year but with O’Brien’s options decreasing, Godolphin have swooped to secure his services.
Al Zir finished ninth in the Guineas and with Frankie Dettori aboard first-choice Rewilding and Ahmed Ajtebi on the surprise supplementary entry Buzzword, the Racing Post Trophy third will have Fallon’s assistance in the saddle.
“Kieren Fallon’s record in the Derby is excellent,” Crisford told www.godolphin.com.
“He was available and has ridden for Godolphin before.”
Al Zir finished third in last year’s Racing Post Trophy and is as big as 33-1 for Derby glory.
Fallon has won the Derby three times on Oath, Kris Kin and North Light.
O’BRIEN DEALT ST NIC DERBY BLOW
St Nicholas Abbey has suffered a setback and will not run in the Investec Derby at Epsom on Saturday.
Ballydoyle’s three-year-old was on Tuesday morning found to have suffered a slight muscle injury in a hind quarter.
Aidan O’Brien’s colt was the long-time ante-post favourite for the premier Classic, but failed to impress jockey Johnny Murtagh in a work-out last Friday.
O’Brien told www.coolmore.com: “St Nicholas Abbey was due to work first thing this morning, however when he came out of his box we noticed he was stiff behind.
“He had looked slightly stiff yesterday evening. His work on Friday last was a little lacklustre for him and that was the first time we had seen anything different, but he was fine afterwards.
“He was immediately examined and scanned by our vets this morning.
“They found a slight muscle injury high up in his hind quarter. This meant he could not work today and we were advised to give him an easy few days.
“Obviously this will preclude him from running in the Investec Derby on Saturday.
“We always thought St Nicholas Abbey could walk on water and it is very unfortunate for all concerned to have a setback like this so close to the big race.”
St Nicholas Abbey was a brilliant winner of last year’s Racing Post Trophy, extending his unbeaten juvenile record to three.
He returned to the track last month in the Newmarket 2000 Guineas, in which he finished a satisfactory sixth behind Makfi.
O’Brien still holds a strong hand at Epsom, however, with new favourite Jan Vermeer the subject of a sustained gamble over the last few days.
OAKS-BOUND CHAMPAGNE POPPING CORKS
Connections of Champagnelifestyle believe the filly has each-way claims in the Investec Oaks at Epsom on Friday.
Her trainer Barry Hills saddled High Heeled to finish third 12 months ago and is hopeful of a good run from the daughter of Montjeu, who was a close third to Gertrude Bell in the Cheshire Oaks on her reappearance.
“She has come on bundles for her Chester run and we are hopeful of a place in a very open-looking race,” the Lambourn trainer told his official website www.barryhills.com.
“Her coat looks fantastic, having looked very wintry for a long time, and the race should be run at a good pace which will suit her.
“She probably would prefer a bit of cut in the ground, but as we saw with High Heeled (another who needed cut) last year the ground at Epsom on Oaks day is usually lovely with a good cover of grass.
“Ernie Johnson reported after he’d ridden the filly in her gallop at the track that if the ground is like it was last Thursday she would have no problems handling it.”
Meeznah will be David Lanigan’s first runner in a Classic and the former assistant to Henry Cecil is excited at the prospect.
She booked her ticket to Epsom with a nine-length romp in a Newmarket maiden last month.
“She worked this morning and we were really happy with her,” said the Newmarket trainer.
“Everything has gone to plan since Newmarket and hopefully we can get her there in one piece.
“We are counting down the days.”
OVERDOSE TO MISS ROYAL ASCOT
Overdose, the legendary Hungarian horse dubbed the ’Budapest Bullet’, will not run at Royal Ascot.
The unbeaten sprinter was under consideration for either the Golden Jubilee Stakes or the King’s Stand Stakes, but is not yet at peak fitness from a protracted spell on the sidelines.
Overdose has been off the track since last April as he recovers from a foot injury.
Although pencilled in to return at Bratislava on June 6, after which a trip to Berkshire beckoned, those plans have now been scrapped.
Owner Zoltan Mikoczy said: “Having seen the horse train and evaluated this, it was decided not to take part at Bratislava or Ascot.
“From a veterinary perspective he is completely healthy, but it is clear that his condition is not yet right.
“It would be a great honour to compete in the King’s Stand Stakes or Golden Jubilee Stakes, but also a great responsibility – this is why we can only let the horse race when he’s 100%.”
Overdose is now back in his homeland after having spent time recuperating in Germany with former trainer Sandor Ribarszki.
Ribarszki has since returned to Hungary but no longer has a licence to train in the country, according to Mikoczy, with Jozef Roszival now Overdose’s registered handler.
BERRY LOOKS TO THE NUNTHORPE
Alan Berry has his heart set on one more crack at the Nunthorpe Stakes at York with his admirable sprinter Look Busy.
The five-year-old mare is to be retired at the end of the season but proved at the weekend she has lost none of her dash when getting up close home to win a conditions race at Beverley.
Her next race will be the Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh on Irish Derby Day, June 27.
“She’s fine and came out of it grand. She was in the Dash at Epsom on Saturday but there was no point going for that because she would have had a penalty and top weight,” said Berry.
“Hopefully we’ll go to Ireland on Derby day, she’s won at the Curragh before so hopefully we can get lucky again.
“She seems as good as ever but she’ll go to Newmarket at the end of the year to the sales I guess.
“I know it’s tilting at stars but I’d love to have another go at the Nunthorpe, one day it might turn up soft. I don’t think she needs it soft but it just seems to inconvenience the others.
“She ran well at Haydock in the Temple considering she lost her front shoes and at Beverley she won well, even though she didn’t hit the front until late.
“You just need a lot of luck in those sprints. I haven’t been having any so hopefully it’s about to change.
“She’s kept the boat afloat for a couple of years and she’ll take a bit of replacing.”
