Big guns Godolphin and Aidan O'Brien were keeping plenty of options when the latest acceptance stage for the Sagitta 2,000 Guineas was published yesterday. Between them they have a representation of 11 in the 41 horses remaining in the £300,000 race at Newmarket on Saturday week.
O'Brien, a winner of the race previously with King of Kings, is responsible for Giant's Causeway, the ante-post favourite, as well as Bach, Bernstein, Monashee Mountain and Royal Kingdom.
Godolphin, bidding to add to the victories of Mark of Esteem and Island Sands, have Bachir, Broche, China Visit, Fath, Glad Master and Zoning.
But China Visit is only in the race as a precaution as he is set to tackle the Kentucky Derby.
Richard Hannon is another with a strong hand - he has last week's Newmarket winners Cape Town and Umistim as well as Kingsdon and Mana-Mou Bay.
David Elsworth and Barry Hills could both be double-handed, the former with Alfini and Scarteen Fox and the latter with Distant Music and Scarteen Fox.
Petrushka is among 35 horses remaining at the latest acceptance stage for the Sagitta 1,000 Guineas on Sunday week.
The teams of Godolphin and O'Brien are only slightly weaker than the colts' equivalent with four entries apiece.
Trainer Mick Channon, still seeking his first Classic victory, has a possible three-pronged attack with his main hope Seazun being backed up by Areydha and Miletrian.
Meanwhile, Monashee Mountain was one of eight horses to stand his ground for Monday's Group Three Desert King Tetrarch Stakes at the Curragh. The unbeaten son of Danzig, as low as 10/1 for Newmarket, could be joined at the Curragh by any one of three stable companions, including Shakespeare and the unbeaten Bach.
Top weight Dorans Pride is set to miss Saturday's Whitbread Gold Cup at Sandown, it was announced yesterday. Trainer Michael Hourigan, who also has Tell The Nipper in the £115,000 contest, had wanted fast ground for Dorans Pride.
Longchamp's Prix Ganay on Sunday has been reduced to six acceptors from an original entry of 17. The sextet include Sir Michael Stoute's Greek Dance, sixth to Montjeu in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October, and Godolphin's Kabool.
The four home acceptors for the Group One contest include two winners at group level this term, namely Russian Hope (Prix Exbury) and Indian Danehill (Prix d'Harcourt).
Chelsea Manor and Barbola, Indian Danehill's two most immediate pursuers in the Harcourt, round out the sextet.
The Golden Vale point-to-point scheduled for this Sunday at Thurles Racecourse has been postponed by 24 hours to avoid a clash with the semi-finals of the National Hurling League in Semple Stadium. The racing will now start at 2.30 p.m. on Bank Holiday Monday, May 1st.
