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Twice Over ticking over for Dante; Poulains field takes shape Connections of TWICE OVER (Observatory) Thursday issued an upbeat bulletin ahead of the unbeaten colt's outing in next Thursday's Dante S. (Eng-G2) at York. Khalid Abdullah's homebred sidestepped the Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) following his victory over Raven's Pass (Elusive Quality) in the Craven S. (Eng-G3) at Newmarket April 17 and will prep for the June 7 Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) in the extended 10-furlong trial. "He is in good form and worked yesterday morning on the Limekilns gallop," Racing Manager Teddy Grimthorpe commented. "(Trainer) Henry (Cecil) seemed pleased, as did (jockey) Ted Durcan and he is in good nick. Missing a classic is always a nervous thing, but the main idea was to give him the correct run at the Epsom Derby and the Dante is the best trial, so at the moment we are happy with that decision." In other classic news, Godolphin's new acquisition IL WARRD (Pivotal) and the Calvera Partnership's PACO BOY (Desert Style) were Thursday supplemented for Sunday's Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas) (Fr-G1) at Longchamp. Connections paid €24,000 each to add the duo, who respectively boast a 4 1/2-length success in the April 12 listed Easter S. at Kempton when trained by Marcus Tregoning and a success for the Richard Hannon stable in Newbury's Greenham S. (Eng-G3) April 19. Their presence brought the total declarations to 20 headed by Il Warrd's stable companion RIO DE LA PLATA (Rahy), who will be ridden by Frankie Dettori with Martin Dwyer on Il Warrd. Godolphin's Racing Manager Simon Crisford reports that Rio de la Plata, the reigning Jean-Luc Lagardere (Fr-G1) winner, is ready for the one-mile classic. " It was always the plan to go for this race as he liked the track last year," he said. "It seemed to suit him very well and he has had a good winter." Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's unbeaten TAMAYUZ (Nayef) will line up in the Poulains, trainer Freddy Head confirmed Thursday. Successful in the April 13 Prix de Fontainebleau (Fr-G3) over course and distance, the homebred pleased his trainer in a recent workout. "I am delighted with him at the moment and he worked very nicely on Tuesday," he said. "He is well within himself and all we have to do is wait and cross our fingers." Another to book his ticket on Tuesday was Sean Mulryan's Criterium International (Fr-G1) hero THEWAYYOUARE (Kingmambo), who will be making his seasonal debut for the Andre Fabre stable. "He did a very good piece of work on Tuesday and everything seems in good order, so he has the green light to go," the owner's Racing Manager Herve Barjot commented. In Sunday's companion Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas) (Fr-G1), Stephane Pasquier looks set to partner the David Smaga-trained MODERN LOOK (Zamindar). While Khalid Abdullah is also represented by last year's Prix Marcel Boussac (Fr-G1) runner-up CONFERENCE CALL (Anabaa) in the classic, the owner-breeder's retained rider is almost certain to ride last year's Prix Miesque (Fr-G3) winner, who was runner-up to Natagora (Divine Light) in the April 14 listed Prix Imprudence at Maisons-Laffitte. "She was running on over seven furlongs last time and has worked well and come on since," Grimthorpe said Thursday. "At the moment, Stephane is leaning towards her, but if she is drawn 16 of 16 he might think again."
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