RACING: Both Shamardal and Motivator's camps issued confident bulletins yesterday as the two Derby winners edge closer to their eagerly-awaited clash in the Eclipse Stakes on Saturday.
While Frankie Dettori has a huge amount of respect for Michael Bell's Epsom hero, he believes that Motivator will have to be "at his best" to trouble his mount Shamardal in the Sandown showdown.
Transferred to the Godolphin operation in the winter, the Giant's Causeway colt put a disastrous reappearance run in Dubai firmly behind him when landing the French 2000 Guineas.
He followed up in the French Derby and was most recently seen romping home in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot at York, ridden on that occasion by Kerrin McEvoy.
"Two great horses, two Derby winners - that's what racing is all about," the Italian said. "I take nothing way from Motivator - he is a great horse and is unbeaten. I really do worry about him, but he has to be at his best to give my horse a race."
Shamardal led all of the way during his three victories, but Dettori refuted the suggestion that he stole any of his Group One successes. He also gave no credence to the theory that Godolphin stablemate Grand Emporium might be there to spoil the race for Motivator.
Simon Crisford, racing manager to Godolphin confirmed that the former champion juvenile is in good shape despite running three times in the space of a month.
Crisford said: "He takes his racing really well and has plenty of momentum behind him at the present time. He seems to be going forward and we could not be more pleased with him.
"Sheikh Mohammed loves a great battle and a challenge and taking on Motivator seems the best challenge of all.
Meanwhile, Bell has played down any fears that the sometimes edgy Motivator might get overexcited in the build-up to Saturday's race.
Question marks had been raised over the Montjeu colt's temperament before he demolished the field in the Derby earlier this month, and he was saddled up well away from the public at Epsom.
The Esher track is tighter and runners are led out close to the public along the rhododendron walk, but his trainer is not concerned.
"I thought he handled the parade at Epsom really well - there didn't look to be any chinks in his armour in that department," Bell said. "The leadout on the track is a bit daunting and all of the Montjeus are a little bit quirky. But it's a trait you expect to see in them, so don't expect to see the horse walking out down the walkway with his head between his front legs fast asleep because he's just not that type.
"One concern is that he's never been right-handed before, which is an element of doubt, but he should be able to cope with it."
Bell added that Motivator is "giving out all the right signs at home" and has every faith that his stable star can make it five wins from five starts in the Group One race. He added: "We've got to be confident - the horse is unbeaten and he's still not seen a horse in the last quarter-mile of his races.
"It's no forgone conclusion, but he's odds-on favourite and let's hope he can justify the bookmakers opinion of him."
Betting moves yesterday surrounded the Aidan O'Brien-trained Powerscourt, who was cut to 12 to 1 from 20s, while Luca Cumani's Starcraft trimmed half a point to 5 to 1 and Motivator eased to 10 to 11 (from 5 to 6).
