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UK: Derby hope Arabian Crown set for return

Epsom Derby (Gr 1, 1m 4f) contender Arabian Crown (Dubawi) will make his return to action when he faces eight rivals in the Classic Trial (Gr 3, 1m 2f) at Sandown on Friday. The Godolphin-owned colt enjoyed a fine juvenile campaign, winning three of his four starts including when an impressive five-and-a-half-length winner of the Zetland Stakes (Gr 3, 1m 2f) at Newmarket. He is as short as 8-1 for the Epsom Classic on June 1. His opponents on Friday include the Ralph Beckett-trained Macduff (Sea The Stars), who was last seen finishing fourth in the Royal Lodge Stakes (Gr 2, 1m) at Newmarket back in September.

FR: Peslier calls time on illustrious career

Olivier Peslier, one of the great international riders of modern times, has announced his imminent retirement at the age of 51. A winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr 1, 2400m) on four occasions and also a four-time champion jockey in his native France, Peslier will take two mounts at La Teste in the south-west of France on Thursday. It will mark the end of a career which has featured a welter of international success including the Epsom Derby, the Japan Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) and at the Breeders’ Cup. Peslier told the Racing Post: “I have earned more than 3,700 victories around the world, 502 Group race wins of which 165 were Group 1s including those in Arabian races. Like everyone, my turn has arrived. I’m a tiny bit younger than [Frankie] Dettori and I’ll be stopping just before him. It’s been an extraordinary career and I would hope I can say it’s been an exemplary one.”