Embassy will miss Sunday's Sagitta 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. Godolphin have decided that the filly, winner of last year's Cheveley Park Stakes when trained by David Loder, is not ready to tackle the Classic.

Racing manager Simon Crisford explained: "Her progress has not been as good as we have wanted for Sunday and it would not have been fair on her to run.

"That said, we are pleased with her - she is doing well."

Future options for Embassy, who was a 14 to 1 shot with William Hill, have been left open and the sole Godolphin representative on Sunday will be big-race favourite Cape Verdi, the mount of Frankie Dettori.

There was more money for Cape Verdi today, with Coral forced to cut the filly's price to 7 to 4 from 2 to 1.

"The Cape Verdi gamble is continuing to snowball and we can't give any ofher rivals away at the moment," said Simon Clare, Coral spokesman.

On Saturday, Dettori will ride Central Park for Godolphin in the 2000 Guineas, with John Carroll aboard Almutawakel.

The other two Godolphin entries, Altibr and Zaya, will be aimed at the French 2000 Guineas.

Godolphin begins its 1998 European Flat campaign with two runners on the opening day of the Guineas meeting tomorrow.

The Dubai team launches its fifth season in Britain by running Mutawwaj in the Kuwait Green Ridge Stables Newmarket Stakes and giving a first start to the classically-bred Nasaayem.

Newmarket clerk of the course Nick Lees issued an upbeat bulletin today.

"It was dry today and dry yesterday and the forecast is pretty encouraging for the weekend - warm on Saturday and hot on Sunday - so things are looking up," he said.

"There will be good ground for tomorrow and Saturday unless anything untoward happens."