Kinane released to ride Dr Massini

MICHAEL KINANE, denied the chance to ride Dr Massini in the Vodafone Derby when the colt injured himself prior to Epsom, will resume his association with Michael Stoute's son of Sadler's Wells in the Budweiser sponsored Irish equivalent at the Curragh on Sunday.

It was feared Kinane, who rode Dr Massini to victory in the Michael Seely Memorial Glasgow Conditions Stakes at York in May, would be claimed to partner Zagreb for Dermot Weld in the £600,000 added showpiece.

But with Zagreb unlikely to take his place in the line up unless there is a downpour, the Irish champion confirmed yesterday that Weld had released him to ride Dr Massini, as he bids for his first win in his home Derby after a heartbreaking short head defeat aboard Definite Article 12 months ago.

"I will ride Dr Massini on a Sunday and I am looking forward to it," said Kinane. "He acquitted himself nicely at York, and I hope that he has come forward from that. I would say Dushyantor is the main danger."

Dr Massini was promoted to Vodafone Derby favouritism in most ante post lists after his York victory but lameness in his near fore forced his withdrawal 48 hours before the race, won by Shaamit.

As expected William Haggas' colt did not feature among yesterday's supplementary entries, made at a cost of £60,000, after injuring himself in his box on Sunday night.

Three horses were added to the entry list, now comprising 15 possibles.

Godolphin, whose challenge for the Vodafone Derby was wiped out when Mark of Esteem and Mick's Love were announced as Epsom defectors, look set to launch a two pronged assault.

Predominate Stakes winner and Prix du Jockey Club fourth Don Micheletto was supplemented yesterday, as was highly pitched Kempton maiden winner Sharaf Kabeer.

Roger Charlton's Private Song, who like big race favourite and Epsom runner up Dushyantor runs in the colours of Khalid Abdullah, also joined the original entries.

The day's trading once again surrounded one horse, Alhaarth.

Dick Hern's juvenile champion is likely to be blinkered for the first time on Sunday and his supporters appear to be adopting a similar outlook.

A 7 to 1 chance when Ladbrokes chalked up their prices on Sunday, Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's Vodafone Derby fifth is now down to 3 to 1.

Ian Wassell, reporting Dushyantor the firm's 7 to 4 favourite from 13 to 8, added "There seems to be a strong belief that the headgear will enable Alhaarth to recapture his juvenile sparkle, as he's been by far the best backed horse again today."

All of which is a mystery to Sheikh Hamdan's racing manager Angus Gold.

"I was asked what he had done to prompt this shortening in his price last night and the answer is I don't quite know" he said.

"I believe he worked in blinkers and that he went well, but I suppose it could be that somebody thought he was just overpriced."