Murtagh is putting his faith in Kalanisi

13 April 2012

Johnny Murtagh has high hopes of scalping hot-pot Montjeu for the second time in a fortnight when again sporting the Aga Khan's famous silks on Kalanisi in Saturday's Dubai Champion Stakes at Newmarket.

Europe's foremost jockey in the year 2000 served up the French-trained colt's sole defeat of the season when winning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in authoritative style on dual Derby hero Sinndar 11 days ago, his countryman Mick Kinane managing only fourth on the 4-5 favourite.

While paying fulsome tribute to Sinndar - whose retirement to his owner's Gilltown Stud in Ireland to stand at a fee of ?IR30,000 was announced yesterday - Murtagh expects to be "very much in the shake-up" in Saturday's Group One event, the feature race of HQ's £930,000 Champions' Day.

"Sinndar was the ultimate racehorse - a machine. He wasn't lacking in any department - he had speed and stamina, as well as immense heart. Riding him catapulted me right to the top. He should be rated higher than 132, but I know how good he was. He was rated 128 for the Irish Derby and had improved 8-10lbs in the Arc," said Murtagh.

"But Kalanisi is a very good horse. He's done nothing wrong all year, having been just touched off in a couple of Group Ones. He's tough and honest and, if he performs to his best, we must be very much in the shake-up. The one question he has to answer is the ground - it will be soft at Newmarket and he's been racing on fast this year."

Murtagh also expects a big run from Stoute's other intended runner in the Champion, five-year-old Greek Dance, whose Group One duck the Irish jockey finally broke in the Dallmayr Preis at Munich.

"It was soft going when we won in Germany but he also ran very well on genuine good ground when we didn't quite catch Giant's Causeway in the Irish Champion Stakes," said Murtagh. "There's not a lot between Greek Dance and Kalanisi in the formbook and I expect it to be the same on the racecourse."

Like his Newmarket neighbour, trainer Henry Cecil also plans a twopronged assault on the local ten-furlong £400,000 prize with Group One-winning fillies, Love Divine and Shiva, and is hopeful of exposing any chinks in Montjeu's armour.

The upbeat Warren Place handler, who yesterday morning attended his string on the gallops for the first time since recuperating from a damaged vertebrae and was then spotted at last night's Tattersalls Autumn Yearling Sales, was buoyed by what he described as "a terribly good piece of work" from Love Divine.

"On his day, Montjeu is a very good horse but, after losing the Arc, there may be a chink to exploit and I was very pleased with Love Divine - she worked particularly well," said Cecil. He advised retained rider Richard Quinn to maintain his partnership with the classic heroine while 11-times champion jockey Pat Eddery was booked for Shiva.

"Richard won the Oaks on her and I didn't want him to discard her when she's going so well," Cecil explained. "The other filly is a bit of a law unto herself at home, but Pat's style will suit her. They both like soft - in fact the heavier the better for Shiva."

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Murtagh is putting his faith in Kalanisi

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