Racing: Dettori has faith in Naheef to deliver first Derby victory

As the thin blue line of Godolphin's Classic horses filtered up the incline of the trial-ground gallop on Newmarket's Limekilns early yesterday morning, Frankie Dettori made it easy for us irregular workwatchers.

The Italian was the only jockey not in the Royal livery of his Dubaian paymasters, his fawn top and harlequin cap the distinguishing features in the blue river which flowed past. Beneath him, Naheef was also rather outstanding, powering clear of Sydenham, his regular work partner, to further nurture the thought that, on Saturday, he could become the first winner of the Derby in Godolphin's colours.

All was quiet at Headquarters just before 7am yesterday. Nothing stirred under the red, white and blue bunting across the High Street on the way to Newmarket's clock tower. Rabbits still felt brave enough to continue nibbling the grassy approaches on the edge of town.

Dettori disturbed the peace over breakfast (mine not his, he didn't have one), as he generously outlined how Naheef was his best chance, at the 10th attempt, of winning the Blue Riband. "This is the first horse I've ridden in the Derby that's suited to the race," he said. "The ones I've ridden in the past have been more or less a last-minute decision. Cape Verdi was never a Derby runner until she was so impressive in the Guineas. And we managed to get Dubai Millennium ready only three weeks before the race."

But then Naheef has been a singular animal for all his active life; the two-year-old which emerged from David Loder's celebrated juvenile academy without fanfare to become one of the best of his generation. Victories at Epsom and Glorious Goodwood last year were followed by a creditable display behind Hawk Wing, the Derby favourite, in the National Stakes at the Curragh. Saturday offers the prospect of revenge and glory neatly wrapped into a two-and-a-half-minute package.

A spluttering display in the 2,000 Guineas, in which Naheef led for six furlongs and then faded into 14th, has been allowed little significance. "We said all along that the Guineas was just a trial," Dettori said. "We knew he didn't have the pace to tackle the best milers. The race unfolded the wrong way for me, so I'm not downhearted at all. This has been the plan since last year, since the National Stakes.

"He has improved with every piece of work since the Guineas. For a lazy horse he now looks very willing, forward and positive. You need a horse that is well balanced and athletic and he seems the one. You don't want to go to Epsom with a giant who can't get his legs round the turn. He's the perfect horse for the race.

"Hawk Wing showed a tremendous amount of acceleration [when second] in the Guineas and when I saw horses with that amount of speed in the past they found it very hard to stay the extra half a mile. He's a top-class horse, but he's got it all to do. So many horses have gone into the Derby like this and not stayed.

"The race is a crescendo from the top of the hill. From four and a half furlongs out to the winning post there is a continual quickening of the pace. That will test anybody.

"From day one High Chapparal has been the Ballydoyle Derby horse. Since January they have made no secret that he is their No1. He is bred to stay and he's done nothing wrong. I'd be more frightened of him."

Godolphin's official Derby record is 0 for 11, though theirs was the support team behind Lammtarra in 1995, when the winner ran in the colours of Saeed Maktoum Al Maktoum. Simon Crisford, the Godolphin racing manager and fellow breakfast diner, is keen this is placed on record. "We won it very early on in the life of Godolphin with Lammtarra and it would mean everything to win it again," he said. "The sense of disappointment after Cape Verdi and Dubai Millennium was so huge. We've had beaten favourites in the race and right now the pressure is not on at all. We're pretty relaxed this time."

Team Dubai also have Moon Ballad and Dubai Destination in the Derby, as well as doubts that either is a true mile-and-a-half horse. Indeed, the latter is most unlikely to run and will probably be seen next back over a mile. "And a lot of people are questioning Moon Ballad's stamina," Crisford added, "including us."

Unless the gallops information of the last few weeks have provided a grand and consistent deception, it is Naheef which will be first home for Godolphin, perhaps first home full stop. "It's gone to plan and pretty much unnoticed," Crisford says. "He used to run up Long Hill [as a two-year-old] and never exposed his talents. When he won first time out at Epsom nobody really fancied him. He drifted in the market and the commentator said he couldn't be one of the best of David Loder's. Nobody fancied him at Goodwood either.

"But now it's the Derby. He's in with a chance, but he's going to have step up and do something we haven't seen before if he's going to win."