Godolphin are not afraid to take on Frankel in Newmarket's 2,000 Guineas with Casamento

Godolphin are not afraid to take on Frankel in Newmarket's 2,000 Guineas with Casamento

Despite reports of eye-catching progress made at home by the Henry Cecil-trained favourite Frankel since his recent Newbury victory, Godolphin have stubbornly refused to be ruffled by one unbeaten colt, albeit one with a huge reputation.

Classic contender: Casamento, pictured winning the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, will be carrying Godolphin's royal blue silks in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket Photo: PA

By J A McGrath 10:00PM BST 27 Apr 2011

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On Wednesday, the ‘royal blues’ confirmed that Casamento, last year’s Racing Post Trophy winner, is set to take his chance in Saturday’s Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Frankie Dettori will be in the saddle.

Casamento’s Group One form last October has been strengthened considerably already this year, with the third (at Doncaster) Master Of Hounds running particularly well in the UAE Derby at Meydan last month, and the fourth, Native Khan, having chalked up a tidy win in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket.

If the ground does not come up dryer than expected, it might reasonably be asked: why shouldn’t this son of Shamardal take his chance? He is a Group One winner, with a record of three wins from four starts when trained in Ireland by Michael Halford. He is now prepared by Mahmood Al Zarooni.

Simon Crisford, the Godolphin manager, said the stable had always been looking to the Derby with Casamento. “But they say the 2,000 Guineas is arguably the best trial for Epsom, and we know it’s a fantastic Classic in its own right. We had considered the Dante at York, but on balance decided Newmarket would be more suitable,” he pointed out.

Genius Beast, who loved the rain-affected ground when winning Sandown’s Classic Trial last Sunday, could now have a trip to Knavesmire next month, though Crisford said no plans had been firmed up for the well-bred colt.

While Classic news continues to dominate, as might be expected at this time of the year, the ongoing dispute between racecourses and the Horsemen’s Group continues, with this time the professionals gaining enough solidarity in the ranks to force a race at Leicester on Friday to be scrapped because not a single horse was entered.

The race was removed from the card, and track officials faced the embarrassing but unavoidable decision to split a maiden event, with six runners in each, to ensure a six-race card. Prize money offered for the race had been £5,000, which was £2,000 below the Horsemen’s tariff.

One of ‘the horsemen’ commented: “Leicester has been a course where the prize money has been consistently below the tariff, and that is why nobody has entered.”

On April 17, the Harry Dunlop-trained Saint Helena walked over, also at Leicester. There was also a walkover at Plumpton on Monday, though this was because of withdrawals on the day of the race.

At Ascot on Wednesday, the Marcus Tregoning-trained Askar Tau took the Sagaro Stakes in fine style and was clipped to 12-1 (from 33-1) for the Ascot Gold Cup in June. “He loves top of the ground, which you wouldn’t expect if you looked at his pedigree,” the trainer explained.
Telegraph.feedsportal.com