Sir Michael Stoute's Vodafone Derby plans will become clearer after tomorrow when he runs both Balakheri and Right Approach in the Convergent Dante Stakes. Johnny Murtagh takes the mount on Balakheri, owned by the Aga Khan, while Kieren Fallon has been booked to ride Right Approach.
Confirmation of the champion's booking for the latter is particularly noteworthy, the jockey having famously described Right Approach at the start of the year as potentially the best horse that I have sat on .
Fallon and Stoute teamed up last year to take the Group Two contest with Dilshaan. It was Murtagh who was on board when Right Approach finished a disappointing third at Sandown on his seasonal debut. However, the Irishman this time links up with Balakheri, the winner of a competitive handicap at Newmarket last time out but taking a sizeable hike in grade here.
Sir George Turner is equipped with a pair of blinkers for the first time after finishing second in the Chester Vase only last week.
Filed by James McMahon
