Emperor heads entries

Racing: Aidan O'Brien's Holy Roman Emperor heads 135 entries for the £250,00 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on October 14th. The ante-post favourite for next season's 2,000 Guineas is one of 41 entries from O'Brien's Ballydoyle stables that also includes Duke Of Marmalade, runner-up in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.

Last year's renewal was won by Marcus Tregoning's Sir Percy, who has since finished runner-up in the 2,000 Guineas before landing the Epsom Derby. This year, Tregoning has the unraced quartet of Ajhar, Atraas, Aqaleem and Seteem engaged in the Group One contest. Mark Johnston won the race in 2004 with Shamardal and has 14 entries, while Michael Stoute has 10 possible runners, including Leopard King.

Peter Chapple-Hyam has the unbeaten duo of Dutch Art and Hamoody, while Paul Cole has his July Stakes and Vintage Stakes winner Strategic Prince engaged.

Barry Hills has eight entries in his search of a fifth victory in the race. Carlos Laffon-Parias' Sandawaki, unbeaten and winner of a Group Three event last time out, is the sole entry from France.

Meanwhile the St Leger ante-post favourite Sixties Icon is more likely to go directly for the Classic at York without having another race. Jeremy Noseda's Galileo colt has been entered in this Saturday's Geoffrey Freer Stakes and also next Tuesday's Great Voltigeur - but it seems likely he will bypass both engagements.

"Sixties Icon is in tip-top order and I have been very happy with his progress since he won at Goodwood," he said. "I will be having a chat with his owners and making a decision on whether he has a prep race prior to the St Leger. However, I feel at this stage we are more than likely to head straight to York on September 9th."

Noseda also reported that exciting two-year-old Sander Camillo is to be aimed at the Lowther Stakes at York on August 24th. The Dixie Union filly is being prepared for a hat-trick of Group triumphs - having landed the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and Newmarket's Cherry Hinton Stakes on her last two starts. She rocketed to the head of the ante-post lists for next season's 1000 Guineas after running out a most impressive five-length winner of the latter.