RACING/Guineas news: Andre Fabre has confirmed Massalani as an intended runner in Saturday's Sagitta 2,000 Guineas.
The top French trainer said yesterday: "He will probably run yes, unless there is a last minute change."
Massalani has a 100 per cent record with three wins out of three runs to his credit and he has already accounted for one of his possible Newmarket rivals this season.
The son of Ashkalani opened his account in a maiden contest at Clairfontaine last season, before following up with another win in a minor event at Chantilly.
He then demonstrated considerable improvement on his reappearance this season when accounting for fellow Guineas hopeful Zipping in the Listed Prix Djebel.
Massalani has not been on the track since that outing but Fabre reports him to be well ahead of his run and is hoping the recent spell of wet weather will hold off. "He has been working alright and he did work this morning, I just hope it does not rain too much," he said.
Fabre is no stranger to 2,000 Guineas success having taken the race in 1993 and 1995 with Zafonic and Pennekamp respectively and he also confirmed jockey plans for this year's contender.
"Olivier Peslier will take the ride and we will probably fly over on the morning of the race," he said.
William Hill reported some support for the French colt and his odds have been clipped to 14 to 1 from 16s but Fabre's hopes of a dry week may well be dashed. Newmarket has had 15mm of rain between Friday and Sunday and the going on the Rowley Mile course was changed yesterday from firm to good to firm.
The forecast is for unsettled weather until Thursday with the possibility of up to 20mm of rain. The longer range forecast is for more settled, drier weather from Friday.
There were only two notable withdrawals from the 2,000 Guineas field at yesterday's five-day confirmation stage with fancied outsiders Comfy and Tikkun both being pulled out of the race.
That leaves 29 acceptors for the colts' race, nine of which, including the favourite Hawk Wing, are from the Ballydoyle yard of Aidan O'Brien. Johannesburg and Castle Gandolfo are still among the entries but they seem set to head for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday instead.
All the major contenders stood their ground for the Sagitta 1,000 Guineas, with just three major absentees, all expected. Henry Cecil took out Half Glance and Protectress, which means he will not be represented in either Classic having withdrawn Western Verse from the colts' event, while Godolphin's Silent Honor is ruled out through injury.
Coral have reported some interesting betting on Quarter Moon. The Aidan O'Brien-trained filly was as short as 7 to 1 with the firm last week but she has drifted out to 11 to 1 for the mile event - although she has been well supported for the Vodafone Oaks at Epsom next month.
Spokesman Simon Clare said: "Some of our shrewder clients were backing Quarter Moon for the Oaks yet we can't give her away for the Guineas."
