Singspiel and Pilsudski may have left for stallion duties but Michael Stoute has another decent senior in Insatiable, emphatic winner of the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown yesterday.
Stoute, who campaigned his older pair with such success over the past couple of seasons, has needed a saint's patience with Insatiable, whose public appearances have been limited by injuries.
However, the five-year-old made a successful return in a conditions race at Newmarket's Guineas Festival before taking yesterday's Group race under Mick Kinane.
Stoute, who may send the entire to Royal Ascot, was impressed: ''That was a very, very, good performance. We have always thought a lot of this horse but he has had minor injuries and that is only his seventh race.''
Bint Allayl lowered Speedy James' colours in the Listed National Stakes to give Mick Channon his first winner for owner Sheikh Ahmed Al-Maktoum.
Jack Berry's Speedy James, made the 8-11 favourite to make it three wins from three, looked to be travelling within himself as he cut out the running, but when Frankie Dettori unleashed Bint Allayl, the race was over.
Channon said of Bint Allayl: ''I have been impressed with her since I have had her, and she has done today what she does at home.''
The winner is in the Queen Mary over the minimum trip at Royal Ascot but Channon may opt to send her over another furlong.
Berry was not despondent with the second's effort: ''It is hard to give weight away, and the winner is very sharp,'' and confirmed Speedy James on course for Royal Ascot's Norfolk Stakes. ''We don't have to take her on again and she will win the Queen Mary doing handsprings. The only thing I have got faster than that at home is the car!''
qSaratoga Springs delighted jockey Michael Kinane as he warmed up for Sunday's Prix du Jockey-Club at Chantilly.
After working the Dante Stakes winner at Ballydoyle yesterday, trainer Aidan O'Brien confirmed: ''Saratoga Springs will go for the French Derby and Michael Kinane will ride him. Michael rode him this morning and was happy with him.''
O'Brien also provide an update on his other possible Derby contenders. ''King of Kings did a lovely bit of work but Second Empire will not do his first work after the Irish Guineas until Friday.''
Plans remain fluid for Second Empire, third under a controversially tender ride in the Irish 2000 Guineas, who is entered in both the Epsom Derby and the Irish Derby.
A total of eight British-based horses were among the 29 at yesterday's latest acceptance stage for the French Derby. They were Prolix (Barry Hills), Rabah (John Dunlop), Sadian (Henry Cecil), Gulland (Geoff Wragg) and Courteous (Paul Cole). The Godolphin trio Central Park, City Honours and Mudeer, complete the octet. Acceptors (British and Irish trainers in brackets):
Saratoga Springs, King Of Kings, Chateau Royal, Desert Fox (all Aidan O'Brien), Guapo, Make No Mistake, Two Twenty Two, Titus (all Dermot Weld), Prolix (Barry Hills), Rabah (John Dunlop), Sadian Henry Cecil), Gulland (Geoff Wragg), Courteous (Paul Cole), Central Park, City Honours, Mudeer (all Godolphin), Croco Rouge, Daymarti, Sayarshan, Thief of Hearts, Jeopardy, Vezing, Roli Albi, Sagamix, Harlem Snow, Dream Well, Makaruka, Sestino, and Mountjoy.
qIan Balding's Hidden Meadow took yesterday's Group 3 Prix du Palais-Royal at Longchamp under Olivier Peslier.
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