YESTERDAY'S devastating news that Sharmardal has been retired due to a chipped ankle robbed us all of a mouth-watering clash between the Godolphin star and Epsom Derby hero Motivator in Sandown's Group 1 Coral Eclipse.

Rarely has the fragility of fine-boned thoroughbreds been more cruelly illustrated but in the absence of Shamardal, the path has been cleared for Motivator to confirm his status as this season's leading three-year-old and, in the process, beat his elders at the first time of asking.

It's been so far so good for Michael Bell's star, who has yet to taste the bitter pill of defeat, maintaining his unbeaten record with a quite imperious performance when crushing his rivals with ludicrous ease in last month's Derby.

"Three-year-olds have a tremendous record in the race and 11lb is a big lump of weight for the older horses to give away," said Bell, whose 1-2 red hot odds-on market leader probably has most to fear from the second favourite, Luca Cumani's Starcraft.

Having cleaned up in a succession of big races Down Under, Aussie import Starcraft has come to the UK in search of more global glory.

It was hard to know what to expect on his Royal Ascot at York British debut but Starcraft created a more-than-favourable impression by chasing home Valixir and Rakti in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes.

All concerned agreed that was a superb initial effort in the northern hemisphere and connections believe there's plenty more to come.

"His first run at Royal Ascot at York was a great show and I'd imagine he's come on for it," reported rider Phillip Robinson following a getting-to-know-each-other session on the Newmarket gallops this week.

Apart from having a bad day at the office, the only other fly in the ointment as far as Motivator is concerned must revolve around the possibility of a slow or muddling early pace in the mile-and-quarter showpiece.

Bell's colt is proven at the Derby trip of 12 furlongs, so jockey Johnny Murtagh may have to bite the bullet and ensure the race is a proper test of stamina rather than simply a three-furlong dash once heads turn for home up Sandown's notoriously stiff uphill finish.

* Triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate's owner Jim Lewis said yesterday he is likely to chase the £1m bonus Betfair are putting up to connections of any horse that can win the inaugural running of the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November followed by the King George VI Chase and the Gold Cup.

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