Racing: Speedy threat to Elnadim

YORK'S EBOR meeting next week is already shaping up as a superpower summit.

The prestigious festival's most prestigious race, Tuesday's International Stakes, is dominated by the big guns who have been dominating the major races all season. Godolphin and Aidan O'Brien are each represented by three runners, and formed half the field between them at yesterday's five- day declaration stage.

Actual running plans are as hazy as the current weather which has forced the Knavesmire executive to start watering their track. O'Brien's Second Empire, for example, is almost certain to run this weekend, either in his native Ireland or France. William Hill have left him out of their ante-post market and prefer Godolphin's Faithful Son as their 3-1 favourite.

While the International on Tuesday may be the most celebrated contest, the Ebor Handicap the following day will be the main betting medium and Thursday's Nunthorpe Stakes arguably the most interesting race of the meeting.

The five-furlong dash will be enlivened by the inclusion of a two-year- old, Speedy James, who will accompany his stablemate at Jack Berry's Cockerham yard, Bolshoi, to post. But this contest appears to be, in effect, a race between two horses to determine the title of champion sprinter in Europe: a fight between the Arundel Assassin and the Middleham Buzzsaw.

It seemed unarguable that Elnadim was the best dragster around after his emphatic victory in Newmarket's July Cup. Then, however, came another persuasive performance from a filly, Land Of Dreams, in the King George Stakes at Goodwood. Both camps are now talking a good showdown.

"Land Of Dreams is one of the fastest animals I've ever sat on," Darryll Holland, who partners Mark Johnston's filly, said yesterday. "It's not just her speed, but the way she travels in her races. They can go absolutely flat out and she's still on the bridle. She does it all so easily and leaves that bit of gas for the finish.

"She has to be produced late and she does need a fast pace. The faster for her the better and with Elnadim in the race I think she's got an outstanding chance. I'm not frightened of him. I think he'll help our case because he goes flat out. If you make the running in Group One sprint races you're always there to be shot at."

Holland will also ride Johnston's Yavana's Pace in the Ebor and is already booked for the Barry Hills trio of Prolix, Bristol Channel and High And Low (Yorkshire Oaks). His tally, though, has yet to match that of Henry Cecil, who will saddle at least 12 runners at the meeting. And that itself is 12 more than Peter Chapple-Hyam, who will not be represented at a meeting he has graced previously with the likes of Cape Verdi, Rodrigo De Triano and Turtle Island.

Manton's expected runner in the Nunthorpe, Carmine Lake, will now be rested in advance of the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp's Arc meeting. "She came back sick from Goodwood but it was nothing serious," the trainer said yesterday. "She has just started cantering again now."

Chapple-Hyam will have some work to do at Newbury tomorrow when his unraced Crystal Charm comes before us in the St Hugh's Stakes over five furlongs. The Hong Kong-owned filly may not have thrown a hoof in anger on the racecourse, but that has not prevented William Hill from cutting her from 40-1 to 16-1 for the 1999 1,000 Guineas this week.

"I haven't got a clue who has been backing her for the Guineas," Chapple- Hyam said yesterday. "It was probably just a couple of tenners each way. She has been working all right at home, but she has done only a couple of pieces of work so I wouldn't get too excited. Five furlongs might be too sharp for her, but Saturday is the only day her owners can come across to see her."

Manton also has a promising juvenile filly on show at Newbury today, though the effort of Circle Of Gold (2.10) will be available only to visitors to the racecourse and betting-shop dwellers. The first televised race features a Listed encounter which will be fought out by five juveniles without a single race's experience between them. The way David Loder's infants are going Phareekh (2.40) seems to be the one here.

The quality race of the day is the Group Three Hungerford Stakes, and this should go to the French 2,000 Guineas runner-up Muhtathir (next best 3.40) if that Classic form is to have any credence. Save the meaty bet however for BENIN (nap 3.10), who will be greatly assisted by the presence of the front-running Shalad'or in his race.