Fabre head over heels about Pour Moi

Epsom hosted its Breakfast with the Stars Thursday morning, and trainer

Andre Fabre was in a bullish mood regarding the visiting Prix Greffulhe (Fr-G2)

winner POUR MOI (Montjeu [Ire]) ahead of the June 4

Derby (Eng-G1). Galloped over 10 furlongs of the track under Mickael Barzalona, Susan

Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's colt finished clear of his companion

and was subsequently described by his trainer as the "best chance" he has had of

a blue riband winner.

"He's relatively inexperienced and we thought it was a

good occasion to get him the experience he's lacking and show him the track," Fabre said.

"Everything went quite well, so we were happy. He enjoyed going

downhill and enjoyed the track. Nearly all my Derby runners were a disaster so

far. Pour Moi is the best chance I've ever had here. He's a good horse.

"I am seriously in love with him, and I expect to be unpopular if I beat Her

Majesty's horse," Fabre added, alluding to The Queen's Dante S. (Eng-G2) winner,

CARLTON HOUSE (Street Cry [Ire]).

Ed Dunlop expressed satisfaction with NATIVE KHAN's (Azamour [Ire]) spin

around Epsom's contours at Breakfast with the Stars. Third in Newmarket's Two

Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) when last seen April 30, he enjoyed a non-taxing

exercise under Kieren Fallon.

"I was very happy, Kieren was very happy," Dunlop said. "He can be a bit boisterous, but we tried to do something

to make things easier on Derby Day. Obviously there will be many, many more

people here, but he's come through today well.

"Whether he'll stay a mile and a

half we'll see, but he's growing up mentally and he is more of a staying horse

to look at than a miler, so we're very excited."

In other Epsom news:

Trainer Kevin Prendergast Thursday ruled out a Derby tilt for DUNBOYNE

EXPRESS (Shamardal). Fifth in Saturday's Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) at The Curragh, John Connaughton's colt will wait for easier

ground.

"He's all right after the race, but the ground was too firm so he's not

going to run again until we get a change in the ground," his conditioner said.

"He's definitely not going to Epsom. We'll have to play it by ear. It will be

determined by the weather. Fast ground is no good to him -- he just can't handle

it."

Godolphin's chances in the Derby will rest solely with

the April 30 listed Newmarket S. winner OCEAN WAR (Dalakhani) after

Racing Manager Simon Crisford confirmed plans at the Breakfast with the Stars

event at Epsom.

While last year's Racing Post Trophy (Eng-G1) winner CASAMENTO (Shamardal)

and the April 24 Sandown Classic Trial (Eng-G3) scorer GENIUS BEAST (Kingmambo) are

still engaged, they are likely to head elsewhere.

"I think we are going to go

with Ocean War -- that is the plan at the moment," Crisford said. "We are

very excited about running Ocean War in the Derby -- he is in tremendous

condition and has progressed extremely well over his last two races. We really

believe that a mile and a half around Epsom will suit him. Frankie Dettori takes

the ride.

"Casamento will be confirmed at the five-day for the Derby, but

the plan is to go for the Prix du Jockey Club ([Fr-G1] at Chantilly June 5). He will

only be left in the Investec Derby as a precautionary measure. Genius Beast will

remain in the Derby as well on Monday, also as a precautionary measure,

but we are looking at the King Edward VII S. ([Eng-G2] on June 17) at Royal Ascot for

him."

Crisford also issued an upbeat bulletin ahead of the Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1) bid of

BLUE BUNTING (Dynaformer) in a week's time.

"Ever since she won a listed race at Newmarket last

year, we have thought that the Oaks would be her race," Crisford said of the Mahmood

al Zarooni-trained winner of the May 1 One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1).

"In the build-up

to the Guineas, because the race was so open, we decided to let her take her

chance but we thought a mile would be a little bit short for her. She is bred to

stay much further and has always looked like she wants a mile and a half, so

winning the Guineas was a fantastic bonus. We thought previously that her best

classic chance would come in the Oaks.

"Blue Bunting has done extremely well

since the Guineas, has gained a little bit of weight, looks fantastic and her

work has been very nice so, fingers crossed, everything is positive."

Crisford revealed that the Saeed bin Suroor-trained KHAWLAH (Cape Cross

[Ire]), the winner of the U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) and U.A.E. Oaks

(UAE-G3), was more likely to wait for Royal Ascot.

"Khawlah was a little bit behind schedule when she arrived from Dubai --

she had to do a 30-day quarantine after Dubai World Cup night," he explained.

"She will almost certainly wait for the Ribblesdale S. ([Eng-G2] on June 16) at Royal Ascot rather

than run in the Oaks."