Big Casamento win good news for Goldolphin

Frankie Dettori rides the colt home at Doncaster and they are likely to be reunited in the 2000 Guineas and the Derby.

Frankie Dettori celebrates Casamento’s win with trainer Michael Halford, right.

The Godolphin-bound Casamento showed exactly why Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, wants him to be part of his operation by winning a Group 1 race yesterday.

The two-year-old, one of the three supplementary entries in the race, hit the front a quarter of a mile out and won the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster by three-quarters of a length.

Casamento is owned by Sheikh Mohammed and is now set to join Godolphin, but that does not bother Mick Halford, the trainer who scored his first Group 1 success.

"There was never any problem with that," Halford said. "It was always going to be the case and we were so lucky to get him. I'm so grateful to Sheikh Mohammed for sending me the horse in the first place."

Encouragingly for Sheikh Mohammed, Casamento responded well to Frankie Dettori and they are likely to be reunited for the 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby

"It was a great performance and I'm delighted for Sheikh Mohammed and Mick," Dettori said. "I think he's probably a Derby horse, but we'll wait and see. He's a lovely horse."

Halford said. "I personally think he might have enough speed for the Guineas, but he stays. He was idling a bit in front and looking for a bit of company. Frankie said he was always happy on him and kept finding more every time a horse got near him. He's a big, relaxed horse and only does what he has to do."

Workforce, the Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner owned by Khalid Abdullah, the Saudi prince, will run in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs, Kentucky, next month as long as the ground is to his liking.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to the prince, said in a statement yesterday: "Workforce will be confirmed as a runner for the Breeders' Cup Turf on Monday. He will run providing the ground is not too firm."

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Workforce impressed in a gallop at Newmarket before yesterday's announcement.

The son of King's Best headed to Newmarket's Racecourse Side for a gallop on grass over nine furlongs, with stable companions Ithinkbest and Confront. Settled at the rear of the trio early on by Ryan Moore, the three-year-old quickened impressively to power clear.

Workforce won the Derby in record time and bounced back to his best after defeat in a big race at Ascot with a thrilling victory in the Arc at Longchamp early this month.