Montjeu's trainer John Hammond yesterday described the double Derby winner Sinndar as worth every pound of his new 128 rating but added defiantly: "I'm certainly not afraid of him."
While Sinndar emphatically stamped his authority all over his Curragh rivals on Sunday, Montjeu won the Grand Prix de St Cloud in effortless style and already anticipation is growing of an epic clash between the pair in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Montjeu, who completed the Irish Derby and Arc double last year, has already been made a 9 to 4 favourite for Longchamp by Cashmans who have Sinndar and the Aga Khan's Coronation Cup winner Daliapour on 8 to 1 each.
Hammond watched the Irish Derby from St Cloud and although he was impressed by Sinndar he is not anxious about Montjeu clashing with him in the Arc or possibly in Leopardstown's Champion Stakes.
The Chantilly trainer said yesterday: "Sinndar won impressively and any horse who wins two Derbys deserves respect. The handicapper has given him a rating of 128 and I'm sure he's worth that.
"The only thing however is that the two other fancied horses in the race didn't run their race. King's Best unfortunately broke down and Holding Court, on a line through Ciro, didn't run his race. But that is often the way."
Hammond confirmed the King George & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes as Montjeu's next race and added that Michael Kinane will be in the saddle, replacing Sunday's pilot Cash Asmussen, if he recovers from his back injury.
John Oxx also confirmed that Sinndar will now have a break until September and then have a warm-up race for the Arc, possibly in the Irish Champion Stakes. That too is a possible target for Montjeu.
Of a possible future clash over 10 furlongs, Hammond added: "Sinndar is clearly the best threeyear-old colt over 12 furlongs in Europe but he might need that trip more than us. But it will certainly be interesting to see."
Oxx said yesterday that Sinndar was fine and added that the Arc is the colt's next big target.
"The plan now is to give him a break and come back in September for a trial," he said while pouring cold water on suggestions that a pacemaker is a pre-requisite for Sinndar to be at his best.
The European handicappers were certainly impressed with Sinndar's Curragh effort and have raised him 3lb from the 125 rating the Aga Khan-owned colt earned at Epsom.
"I think it's quite reasonable to believe he is still progressing," said the British handicapper Nigel Gray yesterday. "Obviously King's Best was injured and it was disappointing that Holding Court didn't show the same level of performance he showed in France but Sinndar could do no more than win and on a line through Ciro, it was an improved performance."
King's Best was operated on yesterday to repair the off fore canon bone he fractured in Sunday's classic. "He's well padded and they have put a special boot on to prevent him putting too much pressure on it," said Joe Mercer, the spokesman for King's Best's owner. "Nothing has been decided about his racing future. Hopefully the injury isn't life threatening but the next 48 hours are crucial."
