Fracas Muddies Derby Waters

Gypsy King kept his position at the head of the Vodafone Derby market yesterday when a series of inconclusive trials continued with the victory of Fracas at Leopardstown.

Connections of the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial winner would not commit him to Epsom in the immediate aftermath, though the unbeaten colt will certainly be given his opportunity at the highest level.

After the unbeaten son of In The Wings had battled tooth and nail to beat Alayan by a short head, trainer David Wachman said: 'That was a good effort. It was only his third run and he is a still a bit green, but his guts got him there.

'I´ll have to talk to the owner, Joe Joyce, but he is entered in a number of Derbys and is entitled to run in one, or maybe two.'

Down Mexico Way was soon out in front in the Group Two contest, with Alayan always close up and Grand Central settled in a length further back, alongside the Jamie Spencer-ridden Fracas.

Fracas and Alayan swept to the front in the straight and fought out a duel as Kieren Fallon had the door slammed in his face as he tried to challenge on the inside on Grand Central.

The 6-4 favourite had to be switched before finishing third, a length behind the principals.

Aidan O´Brien said of Grand Central: 'Kieren was very happy with him and he is still very much in the Epsom Derby picture.

'He ran a good race, learnt a lot and Kieren learnt a lot about him. He is a lovely horse to go forward with and we were very happy with the run.

'He is a good traveller, has plenty of pace and you would hope that he would get the Derby trip well.'

Bookmaker reaction was mixed, with William Hill and VCbet leaving Fracas unchanged at 16-1 for Epsom but Coral going 12-1.

Hills cut Grand Central to 14-1 from 16s, but O´Brien´s charge remains at 16-1 with Coral.

O´Brien enjoyed better luck in the following race as Belle Artiste left her juvenile form behind to run out a smooth winner of the Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial.

The 7-1 chance was having her first start for the County Tipperary-based handler in the Group Three race, having been trained by his father-in-law Joe Crowley last season.

The Namid filly flew late under Fallon and only got her head in front in the final half-furlong, with Paul Nolan´s Sky High Flyer, who also come from out of the pack, taking second and Adaala third.

Jazz Princess, who gave Jessica Harrington her first Group winner on the Flat last October, was sent off the 9-4 favourite.

However, after taking the lead heading out of the back straight, she was collared inside the final two furlongs by the eventual third and came home in fourth place.

'That was a marvellous ride by Kieren as she has to be produced late,' said O´Brien of his three-quarter-length winner.

'She is a very good filly who had a lot of racing last year but has improved again over the winter, and she could run in the Irish Guineas.'

Belle Artiste is owned by O´Brien´s wife Anne-Marie, and he added: 'I´ll be able to relax a bit more in the car on the way home now!'

Solskjaer was denied victory in the Listed Amethyst Stakes when worn down in the final half-furlong by last season´s Irish Lincoln winner Tolpuddle.

Fallon sent the O´Brien-trained 6-4 market leader to the front approaching the final three furlongs.

But Tommy Stack´s 7-2 shot came with a determined effort to cut down the leader - runner-up in the Huxley Stakes at Chester just three days ago - in the closing stages to score by half a length.

'That was a good performance and he always seems to run well,' said Stack.

'He likes a bit of cut in the ground and if it dries up we will give him a rest.

'He might go jumping in the winter and I think he would make a good hurdler.'

? PA Sport