Rolo Tomasi out of action

Black Amber, third to Bertollini in Newmarket's July Stakes, will head the English challenge in Sunday's Heinz 57 Phoenix Stakes against a home defence cruelly shorn of the talents of Rolo Tomasi.

The results of blood test yesterday morning revealed that Eddie Lynam's stable star is suffering from a viral infection and the unbeaten colt misses Leopardstown's Group One prize.

"He looks great and is working great but we've found that his blood is wrong," a disappointed Lynam said. If Rolo Tomasi recovers in time, he may run in the Group One Prix Morny at Deauville in three weeks' time, but he also holds engagements in the Mill Reef Stakes and the Prix de la Salamandre later in the season.

Black Amber, in contrast, is an intended runner and will bid to give Newmarket trainer Neville Callaghan a second Heinz following Danehill Dancer's success in 1995.

"Black Amber definitely runs on Sunday. Danetime is in the Phoenix Sprint as well but he may go to France instead," a stable spokesperson said.

Three other English-trained horses were left in the Heinz after yesterday's forfeit stage but they are unlikely to send shivers of trepidation down the spines of the home connections.

Aidan O'Brien has five left in the race, including the much talked about Nureyev colt, Stravinsky. He missed an engagement on Monday with a bruised foot but O'Brien said yesterday: "He is fine now. Coralita and Bugatti Reef will definitely run and we'll decide on the rest tomorrow."

Walter Swinburn, who will keep the ride on O'Brien's Hunan in the Prix Morny, will ride one of O'Brien's representatives on Sunday as Michael Kinane is claimed to ride Pharmacist in the race.