Shaamit is tipped

IN what looks a substandard Group One event, Shaamit - one of only two three year olds in an eight runner field - looks set to become the 11th Derby winner to follow up since 1970 in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot this afternoon.

Reading of the bare Epsom form would not suggest that the colt is entitled to be regarded in the same league as Nijinsky, Mill Reef or Generous, yet.

Shaamit was all out to hold on by a length and a quarter and the same from Dushyantor and Shantou, both of whom have proven themselves short of the highest class since.

But he quickened in highly encouraging fashion to reach a challenging position that day and looked set for a comfortable victory until tiring late on.

The colt may well have been short of peak fitness, and experience, on his first outing of the year and only the third of his life.

He can be expected to step up on that performance and is potentially a fair Derby winner, at least.

Shaamit can get the better of last year's `King George' runnerup Pentire, yet to strike top form this season, and the stayers Classic Cliche and Strategic Choice who may lack for speed here.

Master Charter can strike for a northern stable in the Crocker Bulteel Stakes. Trained near Thirsk by Lynda Ramsden, Master Charter made a successful trip south when scoring at Newmarket Pentire's trainer Geoff Wragg should not leave empty handed as Henry Island need only improve a little on his recent encouraging Newmarket fifth to be hard to beat off a low weight in the Fire rose Diamond Stakes.