News: Frankie Dettori is confident he will be fit in time for the Vodafone Derby - despite breaking a finger at Goodwood yesterday.
The Italian fractured a bone in his left hand in a bizarre incident before the Mitsubishi Diamond Vision Handicap, where a pheasant flew out of a tree and caused his mount Chinkara to spook on the way to post.
He was taken to St Richard's Hospital in Chichester for X-rays, but returned to the Sussex track afterwards. Dettori explained: "The horse got scared and whipped round left. I got it (his hand) caught, heard a crack and you fear the worst - I thought it would be a three-week thing and I'd miss the Derby.
"But I'll be back for the Derby, don't worry about that. I have fractured a little bone at the base of my little finger - it is a hairline fracture and I am going to see the specialist tomorrow. I would say I would be out for a week to 10 days."
Dettori, who is expected to partner 1,000 Guineas runner-up Sundrop in the Epsom Oaks on June 4th and 2,000 Guineas second Snow Ridge in the Derby the following day, has never won the colts' Classic. The nearest he has come to landing that elusive success in the blue riband was in 1995 on Tamure, who finished second to Lammtarra. He has, however, won the Oaks three times on Balanchine (1994), Moonshell (1995) and Kazzia (2002).
Marcus Tregoning sent out the winner of the Letheby & Christopher Predominate Stakes yesterday for the second year running as Manyana improved considerably for the application of a tongue strap. A traditional trial for the Derby, this year's runners may prove some way short of that standard, judged by the winner's time if nothing else.
But Tregoning is still keen to step his winner up in grade after he atoned for a bitterly disappointing effort at Newbury on his seasonal reappearance.
Sheikh Mohammed's colt challenged wide inside the final furlong and the 10 to 1 shot just got the better of 25 to 1 outsider Crocodile Dundee by a head under a strong ride from Martin Dwyer.
Chester Vase winner Red Lancer was a further two and a half lengths away in third after receiving interference in running. But favourite Mutahayya ran no sort of race.
"The King Edward at Royal Ascot is the logical next step for him," said Tregoning of the winner.
