Visindar Boosts Derby Claims

Visindar cemented his place at the head of the Vodafone Derby market with a comfortable success in the Prix Greffuhle at Saint-Cloud.

Andre Fabre's charge is now as short as 6-4 with Ladbrokes for next month's Epsom Classic after doing everything asked of him by jockey Christophe Soumillon in the mile-and-a-quarter Group Two contest.

With stable-mate Moon Mix in the field to ensure a good test, Visindar was able to travel smoothly behind the leaders in third place for most of the way.

But when Soumillon extricated his mount from the pack to throw down a challenge to the leaders, the response was immediate and Visindar quickened away, his long stride quickly taking him to a four-length success.

Trainer Andre Fabre witnessed the victory but did not hang around long enough to talk to anyone bar the winning jockey.

But Georges Rimaud, racing manager to Visindar's owner the Aga Khan, confirmed that Epsom remained the plan for the son of 2000 Vodafone Derby winner Sinndar.

He said: 'The original plan was to go to Epsom and I see no reason to change our strategy unless another horse comes along and forces us to change our plan. So at this point Epsom is the way we are going.

'He did it and he did it in an impressive manner I should add.

'He has a lot of speed which is certainly a nice thing to have. Sinndar had speed and also stayed a mile and a half and if he can maintain that we should be happy.

'What I wanted to see today was for him to finish the way he did. I don't know what the breakdown of the speed in the race was but it was a proper pace throughout and when he was asked he went on.

Soumillon added: 'Today was the best. There is nothing more to say. It was a good trial run at a good pace.'

The Aga himself, at a public speaking engagement in Britain, was said to be 'feeling rather jealous' at not being at the track.

After speaking with her father, the Aga's daughter Princess Zara also confirmed the Derby to be the next intended race for Visindar.

Bookmakers Paddy Power offer a standout 9-4 with Coral, totesport and Cashmans all going 2-1.

The colt has yet to prove his stamina for the mile and a half of the blue riband, but did little in his victory here to suggest it might prove a problem next month.

'If he is like his dad then that will not be a problem,' said the Princess.

'It is the 25th anniversary of Shergar's victory in the Derby and it would be special to win it again ? but then all Derbys are special.

'My father has not seen the race but he was pleased with the result.

'He wants to talk to Andre and Georges now and get a sense of what the horse actually did but the plan is still to go to Epsom, it is going to be very exciting.'

(C) PA Sport