Decision on Shaamit to be made soon

A DECISION on whether the Epsom Derby winner, Shaamit will be supplemented at a cost of £60,000 for the Budweiser Irish Derby at the Curragh on June 30th will not be made until later this week.

Trainer William Haggas said yesterday: "Shaamit has come out of Epsom in great shape and the Irish Derby is the obvious race for him. However, because he has to be supplemented, the final decision rests with his owner Khalifa Dasmal.

"With all the excitement last Saturday, he lost his voice! Once he recovers, he is to come to the stables to see me and decide plans. I expect that will be towards the end of the week."

Meanwhile, Dermot Weld's promising colt, Zagreb, goes on trial for our premier Classic in the Quality Beef Stakes (9.0) at Leopardstown this evening and it is hoped that the Allen Paulson-owned three-year-old will put up an impressive display as the home trained challenge for the Budweiser-sponsored race is thin on the ground.

Certainly, the son of Theatrical never gave his supporters an anxious moment when coming home unchallenged in a 27-runner Curragh maiden two months ago.

Zagreb was brought with a well-timed challenge at the furlong pole and the race was all over in a matter of strides.

This evening's excellent card is given extra spice with a record £60,000 guaranteed jackpot pool.

The pot is just one of many attractions which also includes a fascinating Group Three Ballycorus Stakes.

The race has attracted only four runners but it certainly doesn't lack in class. Idris stayed on strongly to beat Burden Of Proof in the Group Three Gladness Stakes at the Curragh in April but Charles O'Brien's colt is fancied to gain his revenge now.

A fabulous week for the Haggas family turned sour at Redcar yesterday when their grand old campaigner Good Hand was lost to another stable. Carrying the colours of 89-year-old Muriel Haggas, Good Hand showed he still possesses plenty of ability at the age of 10 when securing the Sunderland Claiming Stakes. But there was a twist in the tail for Mrs Haggas - whose grandson William trained the Derby winner Shaamit - when the gelding was claimed.