DUSHYANTOR is Ladbrokes' new favourite for Sunday's Budweiser Irish Derby after news broke yesterday morning that Shaamit, his conqueror at Epsom, has been ruled out of a rematch at the Curragh.
The Henry Cecil trained colt, repeatedly denied a clear run when beaten a length and a quarter by Shaamit in the Vodafone Derby, heads the market at 13 to 8.
Shaamit, who was supplemented for Epsom in April by William Haggas at a cost of £8,000, was due to be added to the Curragh entries today at a cost of £60,000.
But yesterday Haggas reported that his Mtoto colt would miss Sunday's race. "He has twisted a shoe and is lame and sore," he said. "It was found at evening stables last night so we have taken the shoe off and applied a poultice. In my short experience with horses feet, things always take longer to get better."
Although disappointed Haggas was thankful the injury had occurred before connections had splashed out the entry fee. "I suppose it is better that it happened last night as we have saved ourselves the supplementary fee in that respect the timing was right, but it's sod's law really because I spent most of yesterday telling everyone how well he was and now I have to turn round and say this," he added.
How Shaamit's injury occurred is still a mystery. "I have no idea how he did it he had a long walk on Sunday morning and was absolutely fine after. It is unfortunate but it is a short term setback, but just long enough to rule him out of this race," added Haggas.
The colt will now be aimed at either the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot on July 27th or step back to 10 furlongs for Sandown's Coral Eclipse Stakes three weeks earlier. "We will play it by ear and see how long it takes him to get over this, but those races are both options," said Haggas.
Polaris Flight, second to Ragmar in the Prix do Jockey Club at Chantilly at the beginning of the month, was confirmed an intended Irish Derby runner yesterday by trainer Peter ChappleHyam.
Polaris Flight is in very good form and definitely runs," he said. I think he needs to improve to beat Dr Massini and Dushyantbr, or at least that's what I thought until Grape Tree Roads (seventh at Chantilly) he at Glory of Dancer. Maybe the French form is not that bad."
Chapple Hyam confirmed his promising juvenile Daylight in Dubai an intended starter in the John Roarty Memorial Railway Stakes at the Curragh on the same day.
Alhaarth, the fallen champion who may sport blinkers for the first time in the Irish Derby, has been at the centre of the day's betting exchanges. Originally quoted at 7 to 1 by Ladbrokes, Dick Hern's colt has been backed from 9 to 2 to 3 to 1 yesterday.
Ladbrokes' betting 13/8 Dushyantor, 9/4 Dr Massini, 3/1 Alhaarth, 10/1 Polaris Flight, 10/1 Sharaf Kabeer, 16/1 Amfortas, 25/1 Rainbow Blues and His Excellence.
Paddy Power 7/4 Dushyantor, 9/4 Dr Massini, 7/2 Alhaarth, 8/1 Sharaf Kabeer, 9/1 Polaris Flight, 16/1 Amfortas.
. Arlington racecourse yesterday announced details of the race it has created specially for Cigar on July 13th. The nine furlong "Arlington Citation Challenge" will carry a 750,000 purse, with 8300,000 to the winner.
