RACING:Derby winner Authorized remains firmly on course for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, despite Peter Chapple-Hyam admitting his string have been dogged by a bug in his yard.
The Newmarket handler has enjoyed a dream season, with Authorized's Epsom heroics supplemented by a brilliant performance in the Juddmonte International and Winker Watson emerging as a leading contender for top juvenile honours.
But the stable has been rather quiet of late and he told the Independent: "It's been a nightmare.
"Everybody gets it, somewhere along the line, but it's just happened to us at the wrong time of the year. They don't cough, or anything. They just don't eat, and they're flat. But I hope and think we're getting through it. They seem to be improving all the time. The trouble is there's nowhere I could isolate horses here.
"We have 70-odd boxes and 60-odd horses here. If one got it, they could all get it. But Authorized has been clear all the way through. It's unbelievable, really."
Kieren Fallon showed he has lost none of his finesse in the saddle with a last-to-first success aboard Settigano in the Guinness Handicap at Listowel yesterday.
Michael Fitzgerald's four-year-old was struggling to go the pace at halfway, with Fallon rowing along at the back of the field on the well-supported 3-1 favourite.
Pat Smullen made a bold bid for home turning into the straight on Bawaader and appeared to have the race sewn up. However, Fallon's mount picked up in grand style inside the final furlong, going away to win by two and a half lengths.
Crooked Throw stuck on for third, a further length and three-quarters adrift.
"You wouldn't have thought he would get there down the far side," said Fitzgerald. "But he's genuine and just takes time to get into his stride. It looks like he'll get further judged on today's performance."
Mick Channon and his Box 41 syndicate were celebrating after Halicarnassus bounced back from a disappointing run at Goodwood to land Newbury's Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial yesterday.
His 9 to 1 shot was produced by Tadhg O'Shea to take command inside the final furlong and in a nail-biting finish, he held Soapy Danger - who was having his first run for 395 days - by a neck. Papal Bull, the 11 to 10 favourite, finished with a flourish and was a short head back in third.
Channon said: "He is a fast-ground horse and the plan was always to come here, even though he ran at Goodwood last weekend. He is a tough and consistent horse and has never got the recognition he deserves."
The winner now has a long-term plan culminating in the Dubai Carnival next spring while options remain open for the runner-up, with the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe still a possibility.
Soapy Danger's trainer Mark Johnston said: "I hate being second but in the circumstances you have to be pleased with him and he has shown he is still up to that class. We have had trouble getting weight off him and he is still 10lb heavier than his heaviest winning weight."
Centennial's form has been working out well and John Gosden's son of Dalakhani landed his second race on the bounce when taking the Haynes, Hanson & Clark Conditions Stakes as the 9 to 4 second favourite. Blue Square introduced the winner at 50 to 1 for the 2007 Derby, although Ladbrokes were just 25 to 1.
Hughie Morrison is not renowned for first-time-out juvenile winners but Stimulation proved an exception to land division one of the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup Maiden Stakes.
The Choisir colt was backed into 6 to 1 from an opening show of 11s and produced a smart turn of foot under Steve Drowne to see off Flowing Cape by a neck.
Division two fell to 2-1 favourite Paco Boy, who built on his debut run to win by two and a half lengths under Ryan Moore. Moore was denied a double in the Dubai Duty Free Surprises EBF Fillies' Conditions Stakes as 11-4 favourite Dream Day was denied by the Philip Robinson-ridden Rosa Grace (100-30).
A drop back to seven furlongs saw the Geoff Wragg-trained Hotel du Cap (25 to 1)put up a much-improved display to capture the Listed Dubai Duty Free Cup. Peppertree (14-1) scored on his first start for Ed Vaughan when taking the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes.
