Frankie Fever

Vodafone Derby ante-post favourite Authorized, now generally odds-on with bookmakers, heads the 19 three-year-old colts still going for glory in the premier Classic at 4.20pm on Saturday, June 2, on Epsom Downs.

The Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained colt gives Frankie Dettori his best chance of riding a Vodafone Derby winner after 14 previous attempts ended in defeat.

The jockey, given permission to partner Authorized by Sheikh Mohammed whose Godolphin Stable retains him, is out to overcome 'the one glaring omission from my CV'.

Dettori said yesterday: 'To win The Derby would fulfil all my dreams. I am 36 now and the years are running away from me. I have 10 more years definitely to achieve my aim.'

Authorized will be the hottest favourite in the Vodafone Derby, Europe's richest race with #1,250,000 in prize money, since Entrepreneur finished fourth at 4/6 in 1997.

Others odds-on favourites in the Vodafone Derby since 1965 have been Tenby (finished 10th at 4/5 in 1993), El Gran Senor (second at 8/11 in 1984), Shergar (won at 10/11 in 1981) and Sir Ivor (won at 4/5 in 1968).

The 19 going forward for the Vodafone Derby include eight from champion Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien - Acapulco, Admiralofthefleet, Anton Chekhov, Archipenko, Eagle Mountain, Mahler, Soldier Of Fortune and Yellowstone - after he only withdrew Chinese Whisper at today's confirmation stage.

O'Brien has had four Vodafone starters on three occasions and three runners twice but looks set to better those totals this year.

Godolphin, responsible for the only other two horses to come out of the Epsom Downs Classic today (Jalil and Mythical Kid), now only has outsider Eastern Anthem in the Vodafone Derby.

Aqaleem, second or third favourite, won the totesport Derby Trial at Lingfield and his trainer Marcus Tregoning is hopeful of an excellent performance from the Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned colt.

Tregoning declared: 'Aqaleem is out of a Sadler's Wells mare and he has got form on soft ground anyway so softish ground will not bother him.

'You must bear in mind that he did beat the favourite (Authorized) as a two-year-old. I know that was very early during their careers but it is slightly encouraging that he was able to do that.

'He ran a very solid race when winning at Lingfield and won very easily. He seems in very good form and we are hopeful of a huge run from him.

'The one thing about Aqaleem and Authorized is that it looks like both are going to stay very well. The Derby, on softish ground, is going to be about horses who have class and stamina.

'I asked Richard Hills if Aqaleem had the pace to hold his position in The Derby and he thought that the Lingfield experience had sharpened him up a lot and that the colt would be a lot better coming down a hill in The Derby. It should be a very exciting race.

'Sheikh Hamdan has been a wonderful and loyal supporter to me. Richard Hills has had some terrific Derby rides but, like Frankie, he has not cracked it yet.'

Tregoning won last year's Vodafone Derby with Sir Percy and that colt is aiming to win Friday's Group One Vodafone Coronation Cup at Epsom Downs.

The trainer revealed today:'Sir Percy is in good shape and the Dubai experience did him an awful lot of good and was a great prep race for the Vodafone Coronation Cup.

'He has grown up a lot since last year and he must have an excellent chance on Friday. There are no ifs and buts going into this race and he has taken his work really well. Temperament wise he is so much better.

'Sir Percy has not grown a lot - he is about 15.3 hands and his weight would be about the same as when he won the Vodafone Derby last year.'

Andrew Cooper, Clerk of the Course & Director of Racing at Epsom Downs, said today that going is currently soft, with a few good to soft patches, after 34 millimetres of rain have fallen since Saturday afternoon.

He explained: 'We have had plenty of rain, with 20 millimetres coming last night. But we are hopeful that we have seen the worst of the rain.

'The forecast is for unsettled weather for the rest of the week, though with showers rather than a lot of rain.

'It looks like it is going be on the slow side for the start of the Vodafone Derby Meeting on Friday but the course dries well given the appropriate conditions.

'The number of horses still in the Vodafone Derby is very pleasing.'

Stephen Wallis, Managing Director of Epsom Downs, predicted two overwhelming themes as the two Classics, the Vodafone Derby and the Vodafone Oaks (Friday, June 1), approach.

He said: 'This year's Vodafone Derby is generating plenty of Frankie fever and that is going to be overwhelming by Saturday.

'The amount of publicity is good news for The Derby, while there is a groundswell of support for Henry Cecil who is after his eighth success in the Vodafone Oaks on Friday.

'Both themes are providing a sense of excitement worthy of Classics.'