No Grounds For Motivator Concern

Connections of leading Vodafone Derby hope Motivator have expressed themselves satisfied with the ground conditions at York ahead of the colt´s reappearance in the totesport Dante Stakes.

Michael Bell´s stable star will launch his Classic campaign in the Group Two contest on Thursday, having last been seen landing the Racing Post Trophy in impressive style.

Both of his wins as a juvenile came on ground described as soft, but Harry Herbert, spokesman for the Royal Ascot Racing Club, said on Monday that good ground would be fine.

'The ground is pretty soft at the moment at York and while it is a drying week, we are not overly concerned about the ground,' he told At The Races.

'Good ground is probably what we are hoping for, but good, good to soft is fine.

'If the ground got very quick we would be concerned, but it appears the ground is going to be ideal for him.'

Herbert continued: 'Touch wood he is in terrific form. I spoke to Michael this morning and he is very pleased with him. We are just desperate for Thursday to come and the horse can do the talking - one way or the other.'

Motivator lost his position at the head of the Derby market when Gypsy King landed last week´s Dee Stakes at Chester and Herbert is hard pushed to pick the Derby winner.

'There isn´t a horse at the moment that has shone and caused everybody to think that he is a worthy Derby favourite,' he said.

'There are some very nice horses with mixed and muddled form and it was a clever move by Aidan (O´Brien) to run Gypsy King at Chester.

'The horse was all over the shop early on in the race and was given a terrific ride by Kieren (Fallon). He will have learnt a lot from that but Epsom on Derby day is a different matter altogether.'

? PA Sport